Report: Boniface wants out in January, so why is Leverkusen calm?

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface wants to leave Bayer Leverkusen in January, Sky Germany reported, but sporting director Simon Rolfes says “I’m not worried” and that the striker is in much better shape.

The report, carried by Bulinews on 22 October, says Boniface’s representatives have told Leverkusen he wants out when the window opens. No concrete negotiations with interested clubs are known, and a transfer is not believed to be at an advanced stage.

Boniface has made one appearance this season, five minutes in the opening-day 3-2 Bundesliga defeat to Elversberg. Leverkusen then left him out of their Europa League squad, registering Jonas Hofmann after Martin Terrier suffered a long-term injury.

What Rolfes said

Rolfes responded on 24 October, in comments Africa Soccer quoted from Transfermarkt:

“That doesn’t change Boni’s situation.”

Rolfes added: “I’m not worried.”

He said the striker has improved: “Since then, he’s been in much better shape, mentally as well, and sees many more possibilities again.” Rolfes also said pressing and working hard off the ball “wasn’t his core strength” and that the club wants “to get his fitness level as high as possible so that he can showcase his qualities”.

Analysis: two public positions that can both be true

A player can ask to leave while his club says the door is open, and both can describe the same stalemate. Leverkusen’s message is that Boniface must earn minutes, while the reported request, if accurate, points to a player who wants minutes sooner than that plan offers. Soccernet laid out the two routes in its earlier look at a January loan or a return.

The next signal will be whether Boniface features in the Bundesliga squad before the window opens, and whether any club makes an approach.