Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik Ten Hag has opened the door for a return for Victor Boniface, but revealed the striker has to fight for his position in the squad.
Boniface, 24, looked set to leave the former Bundesliga champions this summer before his proposed move to Italian side AC Milan collapsed over a failed medical.
The Super Eagles forward also failed to secure a move to Al Nassr in January, with the Saudi Premier League side opting to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa.
Boniface has returned to Germany and with few days remaining in the summer transfer window, looks likely to remain at the club until January.
“Yeah, we have plans, but, as you mentioned, last week he wasn’t there and therefore he wasn’t in the squad”, Ten Hag said after Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen.
“But when he’s there, he can be part of the group and then he has to fight for his position. He [only] trained the last two days, therefore, he wasn’t in [the squad today].”
Bayer Leverkusen dropped points from winning position for a second straight Bundesliga match on Saturday, following their 3-3 draw away at 10-man Werder Bremen.
Patrick Schick (2) and Malik Tillman scored for Erik Ten Hag’s men, who looked set for victory until a late equalizer by Abdoul Karim Coulibaly.
“When he’s training every day, the whole week, with our team, then he has to fight for his position”, he added.
Boniface could make his first appearance of the 2025/26 season for Leverkusen against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday, with Ten Hag’s men in search of their first league win of the season.
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