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Evan Ferguson. Alamy Stock Photo

Ireland's Evan Ferguson could join German champions Bayer Leverkusen on loan deal

Sky Sports News report that the Bundesliga club are keen on Ferguson.

IRELAND INTERNATIONAL EVAN Ferguson is being pursued by Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen, according to reports.

Mark McAdam of Sky Sports News reports that Leverkusen are interested in a loan deal for the Brighton and Hove Albion striker.

West Ham were initially linked with Ferguson, and it is understood that a number of Premier League clubs have also enquired about his availability.

Should he go to Germany, he would be managed by Xabi Alonso. They are defending their first Bundesliga title and are currently second, behind leaders Bayern Munich by six points.

Alonso has confirmed that Leverkusen are selling striker Victor Boniface, 24, who is expected to move to play for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in a move expected to be worth more than €50 million.

Boniface arrived in Leverkusen from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise 18 months ago for €20 million.

He has scored 29 goals and laid on 11 assists in 49 matches for the club, but has not played since picking up a hamstring injury on international duty in November.

The Nigeria striker missed training ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Sparta Prague.

“There are discussions with the club and we need to wait. We’re preparing without Boni,” Alonso told reporters Tuesday.

“We will see. We need to wait a bit more but our preparation is with the rest of our squad who are ready and fit and in good shape at the moment.

“It’s the last Champions League game and that’s our focus.”

Alonso revealed Leverkusen were “getting close” to signing more players during the winter window and added: “I’m very satisfied with the squad and with our quality… and will be (at the end of the window).”

– Additional reporting © AFP 2025

Written by Declan Bogue and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jan 7th 2024, 5:17 PM

    The IDA are doing a fantastic job for this country. Credit where credit is due.

    172
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    Mute Iano C
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    Jan 7th 2024, 6:46 PM

    @Paddy Ryan: Couldn’t agree more!

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    Mute Pete Murray
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    Jan 7th 2024, 11:32 PM

    @Paddy Ryan: all thanks to the wonderful FG :)

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    Mute D Farrell
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    Jan 8th 2024, 12:51 PM

    @Pete Murray: Yes, FG are pro jobs, but so too are FF. Sinn Fein is against international investment, and there will be negative job and corporation tax income consequences in the medium-term if elected.

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    Mute John Meade
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    Jan 7th 2024, 4:22 PM

    Nice little holiday for him

    173
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    Mute alan scott
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    Jan 7th 2024, 4:34 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: lol they paid 20 billion in tax XD. Stop with the communist view point that multinationals don’t pay tax. Only for these companies Ireland would be among your poorest EU countries.

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    Mute Machine Learning IRE
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    Jan 7th 2024, 6:25 PM

    The Irish government won’t invest properly in home-grown Irish tech start-ups. Enterprise Ireland is a basket case of corruption and red tape, and the Country Enterprise Boards (in particular, Kildare County Enterprise Board) are a barrier to entrepreneurs and true innovation. In other EU countries, safeguards and mechanisms are in place to ensure that innovation and invention are fostered, mechanics that prevent the fund managers from favouritism. Some of the shoot that gets funded is laughable, while cutting edge innovators have to leave the island to get funding. Irish industry suffers, job exporting is nourished, and tax is lost. Never blame our successful entrepreneurs for going overseas.

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    Mute Machine Learning IRE
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    Jan 7th 2024, 6:26 PM

    @Machine Learning IRE: The Irish government is trying to attract overseas successful businesses with taxation giveaways instead of building on and nourturing our own talent.

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    Mute Pete Murray
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    Jan 7th 2024, 11:34 PM

    @Machine Learning IRE: looks like someone’s useless idea got shot down lol

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 8th 2024, 8:51 AM

    @Machine Learning IRE: We’ve always been a fan of ‘franchise over local’. It has largely worked but if we see another bust moment we will not have capitalised on it, in terms of infrastructure, lean times are going to continue and the constant marketplace volatility is now normal.

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jan 7th 2024, 4:22 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: You mean pension funds, but that doesn’t sound negative enough.

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    Mute James Moylan
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    Jan 7th 2024, 5:52 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: multinationals corporation tax are paying your welfare

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    Mute mark sheehan
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    Jan 7th 2024, 5:07 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: the 13 billion is being held by Ireland but the money is owed to Europe, that doesn’t suit your narrative.

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Jan 8th 2024, 1:01 PM

    @mark sheehan: eh that’s not strictly speaking the accurate facts either –the ruling was that Ireland had undercharged apple 13bn in corporation taxes and they paid the money into escrow while the case grinds away – specifically instead of charging 12% there was an agreement to only charge something favourable like 1.5% – of course if this gets resolved and the 13bn does accrue to Ireland as mandated – there is the possibility that some of the other eu countries ask to backdate and stake a claim to some of that – but that’s actually not a sure thing or an easy thing to do based on the agreements in place at the time – so it might not suit your narrative but actually the 13bn is due to Ireland as the rulings stand at the moment.

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    Mute Ian McDonald
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    Jan 7th 2024, 5:44 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: it’s important when having a rant Cormac that you ignore the taxes into the Exchequer from employing so many people here, and the knock benefits to the local economies. Those points should never get in the way of a good, blinkered rant

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    Mute honey badger
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    Jan 7th 2024, 5:02 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: I’d politely suggest you revisit your understanding of the Apple tax that they are “due to pay us”. That clanger after saying multinationals don’t pay tax here too.
    SMH.

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    Mute Gerry Hannan
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    Jan 7th 2024, 4:32 PM

    This man is so on the ball. That’s just what we need. More talk.

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    Mute alan scott
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    Jan 7th 2024, 5:19 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: Work more than the rest of Europe??? Where did you get these figures from??? Talking BS again. Making stuff up as usual.

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    Mute Chris Gaffney
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    Jan 7th 2024, 5:31 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: Comedians like you and probably your sf heroes are the reason Ireland will be an economic wasteland within a couple of years of sf getting into power. Hopefully it wont happen for many years yet!!!

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    Mute uXGdMXx5
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    Jan 7th 2024, 10:01 PM

    Ah another PR piece for the Government

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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Jan 7th 2024, 5:27 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: How much tax would be enough, Cormac?

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    Mute Dman
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    Jan 7th 2024, 4:18 PM

    Ah sure ye are great craic!!!!!

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    Mute Pete Murray
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    Jan 7th 2024, 11:30 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: why do you lefties have to lie all the time?

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    Mute Pete Murray
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    Jan 7th 2024, 11:31 PM

    @Cormac Carroll: imagine employing someone like you lol

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    Mute Dean Smyth
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    Jan 7th 2024, 9:30 PM

    @Chris Gaffney: Jokes

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