The most pressing storyline at Bayer Leverkusen right now is not on the pitch but in the transfer market, where 23-year-old defender Jarell Quansah is emerging as one of the most coveted players in European football. Real Madrid have entered the race for the English international, with coach Jose Mourinho identifying him as a priority target for 2027 as the club faces potential departures in defence. Liverpool, who sold Quansah to Leverkusen for 35 million euros in summer 2025, hold a buy-back clause worth 70 million euros that can be activated by June 15 next year, and reports suggest the Reds are seriously considering using it. Arsenal and Chelsea are also monitoring the situation closely. Arsenal made a 65 million euro bid last summer that Leverkusen rejected, valuing the player higher. The club's new head coach Carles Martinez has repositioned Quansah from centre-back to right-back, a role that appears to have raised his profile further across Europe. Keeping him beyond this season looks increasingly difficult.

On the pitch, Leverkusen are finding their footing under Martinez. A 2-0 Bundesliga win over RB Leipzig on September 20 was a solid step forward, leaving them fifth with seven points from four matches. The next test comes away at Mainz 05 on October 10, a fixture that could help define whether the club can push into the upper reaches of the table.