RB Leipzig begin their competitive season under a cloud of uncertainty, with new head coach Martin Demichelis yet to secure the attacking reinforcements he has been demanding throughout pre-season. The club's summer recruitment has been a story of repeated frustration. A deal for Hoffenheim midfielder Fisnik Asllani collapsed after he failed his medical. The prolonged pursuit of Cologne winger Said El Mala, for which Leipzig were reportedly willing to break their own 50 million euro transfer ceiling, ended when the 19-year-old signed a new contract with Cologne until 2031. Christopher Nkunku, the former Leipzig forward now at AC Milan, has emerged as the most advanced target, with reports suggesting a return is close to being finalised. Should that deal fall through, Jadon Sancho and Nick Woltemade have been mentioned as alternatives.

On the pitch, pre-season results have done little to ease the pressure on Demichelis. Leipzig lost 2-0 to Leeds United and then fell 3-1 to Bayern Munich in the Telekom Cup, a result that exposed defensive vulnerabilities and raised questions about the squad's readiness. The departure of Yan Diomande to Real Madrid for a reported 125 million euros has left a significant void, and the failure to replace him cleanly has compounded the sense of a club in transition.

Leipzig face Eintracht Trier in the DFB-Pokal first round today, a tie they are expected to win comfortably against fourth-division opposition. But the real test of where this squad stands will come when the Bundesliga season begins, with a trip to Werder Bremen on 5 September arriving quickly.