Ten Hag plans to keep Victor Boniface at Bayer Leverkusen

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who was appointed head coach of Bayer Leverkusen just over a month ago, is reportedly planning to retain Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface, despite recent speculation about his possible exit.

Boniface’s future at the Bundesliga club has been uncertain in recent months following an injury-hit season and Leverkusen's tactical shifts.

However, according to Bundesliga Insider, ten Hag is keen to test a new two-man strike partnership involving Boniface and Czech forward Patrik Schick during pre-season.

The 24-year-old Nigerian forward had an impressive start to life at Leverkusen after joining from Royale Union SG two years ago.

In his debut season, he racked up 21 goals and 10 assists in 37 matches across all competitions. Though last season was hampered by injuries, he still managed 11 goals and two assists in 27 games.

Despite these contributions, Boniface struggled for consistent minutes late last season, often finding himself behind Schick in the pecking order.

That fuelled speculation of a potential summer move, especially as Leverkusen are believed to be entering a rebuild phase following the departure of several key players.

However, ten Hag is reportedly intrigued by Boniface’s skill set and versatility. Unlike Schick, who is a traditional target man, Boniface thrives with the ball at his feet, often dropping into midfield to link play and create opportunities.

The Dutch coach is expected to experiment with both players in a two-pronged attack during Leverkusen’s pre-season preparations.