Going After the Chocolate Dream: Eberl's Obsession Unleashed
With Tah's transfer out of the picture, Max Eberl, sports director of FC Bayern Munich, finds himself head-over-heels for the tantalizing world of fine cocoa. The German champions decided to hold off on any additional signings during the transfer window, leaving Eberl to nurture his newfound passion.
"Our squad is good to go," said Eberl at a pre-match press conference before Bayern's Bundesliga showdown against SC Freiburg, taking place on Sunday (5:30 pm/DAZN). Eberl sought to address the ongoing situation surrounding Tah, which had been the subject of widespread media attention. He felt mischaracterized by how the private negotiations were portrayed in the media for the past few weeks.
Collision of Deadlines and Expectations
"It was a simple exchange – Leverkusen set a deadline, sent an astronomical asking price," Eberl explained, recalling his correspondence with Leverkusen's sports managing director, Simon Rolfes. "The amount? Insane. I told Simon, 'It's a great number, but it's simply impossible to meet it.' That's the raw truth of the transfer saga."
According to reports, Leverkusen demanded up to 30 million euros for Tah, a 28-year-old center back whose contract was approaching expiration, potentially allowing him to leave Leverkusen without a transfer fee. At a fan club event, Bayer's CEO, Fernando Carro, stated, "I have no time for Max Eberl and would never engage in talks with him." Carro eventually apologized for his remarks towards Bayern Munich.
Silent Response from Leverkusen
Eberl admitted on Friday that he reached out to Leverkusen in the final hours of the transfer window, inquiring if there was still a chance for Bayern to sell Tah and recover some funds. "Leverkusen didn't reply," Eberl explained. "It's part of the game, discussed, negotiated, attempted, but the response remains disappointing."
While Bayern too must generate revenue through the transfer market, they've invested over 120 million euros in new players this summer, without recouping a significant amount through sales.
As the transfer window draws to a close, speculation surrounding potential player departures persists. Winger Kingsley Coman has been rumored as a possible last-minute transfer target, perhaps in the Saudi Arabian market. Another option under consideration is loaning 20-year-old attacker Gabriel Vidović.
Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen failed to reach an agreement on the transfer of Jonathan Tah, with Bayer Leverkusen demanding a high fee that Bayern couldn't match. As a result, Bayern has chosen not to pursue any additional signings during the current transfer period.
