Leverkusen’s number one? A change in goal won’t happen so quickly, admits Xabi Alonso, who is happy with Hrádecky

We should soon see a third Czech footballer at Bayer Leverkusen. After Patrik Schick and Adam Hložek, goalkeeper Matěj Kovář is heading to the club after transferring from Manchester United, where he was a guest at Sparta last season. What did his new coach say about him?

When he came to Sparta last summer, many did not understand this move. After all, the arrival of a young goalkeeper on loan is not exactly usual, especially at Sparta, which has always boasted about how good its goalkeepers are.

However, Kovář wiped everyone’s eyes clean, he was on a roll in the autumn and completely dominated the spring. Thanks to him, Sparta won the title after many years and he was looking forward to continue his good work. Sparta had a tentative agreement with United, but…

In the end, the young goalkeeper did not return, for Manchester realised that they could evaluate him well. Sparta refused to invest the required money and now it seems clear that Kovar will become the new signing for Bayer Leverkusen.

Former Spartans Patrik Schick and Adam Hložek are there and like them, he will fight for his place in the squad. If the goalkeeper arrives for €9 million, the amount that has been speculated, it is clear that he is not just coming off the bench.

However, coach Xabi Alonso himself has admitted that he doesn’t plan to just make a change in goal. Smith came in as competition for Lukas Hradecky and until he acclimatises and confirms his qualities in training, he will probably only have to watch games from the substitutes bench.

“Lukáš looks very good in training and matches. I am satisfied with him. The change in goal will not happen so quickly. But we always want to have competition in all positions, from striker to goalkeeper,” Alonso told Kicker.

However, the Finnish goalkeeper hasn’t been performing so well in recent months that it would be impossible for Kovar to get between the three sticks. So it is probably only a matter of time before he makes his debut in one of the best leagues in the world.

Source: Kicker