Bayer Leverkusen brings Patrick Pentz – situation with substitute Lunev “unclear”

Was just before the MLS change

The first version of this article appeared at 07:32 and was updated after the fix message.

Bayer Leverkusen reacted to Andrey Lunev’s short-term absence by signing Patrick Pentz. The Austrian, who has been under contract at Stade Reims since last year, comes as a substitute for Lukas Hradecky and has signed a contract until 2025. At the same time, the “Werkself” reported Lune injured, although it is not clear how long he will be absent. Either way, the Russian’s current contract expires in the summer.

Early on Friday evening, Leverkusen officially announced the transfer of Pentz. “We had to find a good solution in this important position, as Andrey’s timely return to our squad is unclear. We found this solution with Patrick Pentz,” said sporting director Simon Rolfes. “Patrick is a strong footballer, has good reflexes and brings a lot of experience and match practice with him. We are happy about the opportunity to get an ambitious goalkeeper at a high level at short notice, with whom we will be well positioned in the future.”

#Bayer04 obliges Patrick Pentz!
The 26-year-old Austrian goalkeeper comes from @StadeDeReims and has signed a contract until 2025.
Welcome to Leverkusen, Patrick!

More on this https://t.co/2GCzDSuaKN

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) January 27, 2023

The magazine “table football” and the “picturenewspaper had previously reported on the new plan with Pentz, who wanted to leave Reims but was actually almost on his way to the United States. Both publications said that a hoped-for move from Pentz to the MLS to Colorado Rapids could no longer come about because of the interest of the “Werkself” – that’s what happened in the end.

Instead, the four-time national player immediately switched to the Bayer bench and is also scheduled to be the second goalkeeper for the coming season. Leverkusen attributed Lunev’s absence to back problems, but there seems to be no effort to extend the expiring contract. According to previous reports, Lunev himself does not want to stay. There are rumors of a return to Moscow.

In the Transfermarkt interview, Pentz emphasized shortly after his move from Austria Vienna to France that he wanted to “develop step by step” by going to Reims instead of a possible move to a larger club. He said: “If I had gone straight to a top European club, I don’t know if it would have been good for my development. At my age, it’s primarily about gaining match practice at the highest level and that’s the case at Reims,” ​​explained Pentz. However, the keeper soon lost his original place in Champagne. In September 2022 he was in the red and white for the last time between the posts.

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