Brentford Goalkeeper Targeted as Bayer Leverkusen Plan Summer Move | OneFootball

Brentford Goalkeeper Mark Flekken Attracts Interest From Bayer Leverkusen

Mark Flekken’s future at Brentford has been cast into doubt following fresh reports from Sky Sports Germany that Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen are considering a summer move for the Dutch international goalkeeper.

The 31-year-old, who joined Brentford from Freiburg in the summer of 2023, has quickly established himself as the Bees’ number one, making 30 appearances in all competitions this season. While Brentford’s defensive record has been inconsistent — conceding 45 goals with six clean sheets — Flekken has largely impressed, particularly in a league as demanding as the Premier League.

Photo IMAGO

According to Sky Sports Germany, “Leverkusen have already made contact with the Dutch international.” The report adds that Flekken is viewed as one of the leading candidates to resolve uncertainty in Leverkusen’s goalkeeping department, where Xabi Alonso has rotated between Lukas Hradecky and Matej Kovar.

Flekken remains under contract at Brentford until 2027, but a transfer fee in the region of €15 million (around £13 million) could be enough to tempt the Premier League club into negotiations.

The move would mark a return to the Bundesliga for Flekken, who previously impressed in Germany with Freiburg before crossing to England.

Photo: IMAGO

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For Brentford fans, this news comes with mixed emotions. Mark Flekken may not be a headline-grabbing name, but his importance to this side cannot be overstated. He’s brought calmness, shot-stopping consistency, and Premier League-level distribution to a team that has had to weather injury spells and defensive reshuffles all season.

The worry isn’t just about losing a quality goalkeeper — it’s about what that says for Brentford’s trajectory. With Ivan Toney gone and the club battling to remain stable in the mid-table pack, selling Flekken would feel like another step back when momentum is so desperately needed.

And while £13 million might look reasonable on paper, the cost of replacing a settled, high-performing goalkeeper in this market would likely outweigh the fee received. Fans would rightly expect reinvestment, not just in a replacement but in a statement of intent that Brentford aren’t simply becoming a stepping stone.

Losing Flekken to a resurgent Bayer Leverkusen, under Xabi Alonso’s compelling project, would be understandable. But Brentford must fight to retain their core — or risk slipping backwards in a league that punishes stagnation.