Bundesliga Daily Report - 2026-07-26

Real Madrid have moved to the front of the race for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with multiple reports on July 26 saying the clubs have reached an agreement in principle and that personal terms are already in place. The 19-year-old Ivorian was one of the Bundesliga’s breakout stars in 2025-26, producing 12 goals and eight assists and winning Rookie of the Year. Madrid’s bid is widely reported to be above €100 million, with one account putting the package at €120 million, underlining how quickly Diomande has become one of Europe’s most expensive young forwards.

The scale of the fee shows why this story matters beyond Spain: Leipzig are being forced to weigh immediate cash against the risk of losing a player who only arrived in July 2025 for €20 million from CD Leganés. Several outlets say Paris Saint-Germain have stepped back, while Liverpool and Manchester City had also been monitoring the winger after his World Cup displays. If Madrid complete the deal, Diomande would join a squad already loaded with elite attackers, and Leipzig would lose a player whose value has multiplied dramatically in just one season.

RB Leipzig head coach Martin Demichelis has finally addressed the Yan Diomande saga, stopping short of guaranteeing the winger will stay at the club. Speaking after a pre-season friendly, Demichelis said: 'He remains an RB Leipzig player. But in football, anything can happen.' The comment matters because it came after days of mounting speculation linking the 19-year-old to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Manchester City. Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer had previously insisted the club want Diomande to remain for the 2026-27 season.

Demichelis’ remarks suggest Leipzig are preparing for a difficult negotiation rather than publicly fighting a battle they may lose. Reports on the same day said Madrid had improved their offer after an initial €100 million bid was rejected, while Leipzig are believed to be holding out for around €130 million. Diomande’s season, with 12 Bundesliga goals and eight assists, has made him the most valuable player in the club’s shop window. The longer the saga drags on, the more Leipzig risk losing control over both the fee and the timing of a replacement.

Schalke 04’s summer business is gathering pace, with Maximilian Wöber joining on a free transfer after Leeds United agreed to terminate his contract. The 28-year-old Austrian defender was rushed into Schalke’s training camp in Neustift, and Get German Football News reported that the move was designed to revive his Bundesliga career after injury problems. Wöber has signed a one-year deal with an appearance-based extension option, giving Schalke a low-risk way to strengthen their squad while protecting a limited budget. The club’s careful approach is already paying off on and off the pitch.

That frugality may also help Schalke keep Edin Džeko, whose extension now looks increasingly likely. Reports on July 26 said the 40-year-old Bosnian is 80 to 90 percent likely to sign a new one-year contract, with an answer expected by early August. Džeko scored six goals and added three assists in 11 appearances after arriving in January, and his impact was decisive in Schalke’s promotion back to the Bundesliga. The fact that he became the oldest scorer in 2. Bundesliga history, at 39 years and 10 months, shows why the club are keen to keep him for one more season.

Sunderland have firmly shut down Chelsea’s attempt to sign Granit Xhaka, with Régis Le Bris making clear the topic is closed. Chelsea, now led by Xabi Alonso, had explored a move for the 33-year-old midfielder, but Sunderland rejected an £8 million bid and have repeatedly said he is not for sale. Xhaka has become the heartbeat of Sunderland’s side since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, helping them finish seventh in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League in their first season back in the top flight. That turnaround explains why Sunderland are refusing to budge.

The Switzerland captain’s value is not just sentimental. He featured six times at the World Cup this summer as Switzerland reached the quarter-finals, and his experience has already shaped Sunderland’s identity after years of instability. Le Bris’ blunt public stance, delivered after a loss to Liverpool in the United States, signals that Sunderland see Xhaka as central to their next step rather than a player to cash in on. For Chelsea, the rejection is another reminder that they will need to look elsewhere for a midfielder of similar authority and leadership.

Eintracht Frankfurt are intensifying their pursuit of Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika, with reports on July 26 saying the Bundesliga club has already improved its offer. The 25-year-old Nigerian international is being targeted as a midfield reinforcement ahead of the new season, with Frankfurt viewing him as a player who can add defensive structure, energy and composure in the centre of the pitch. Club Brugge are still holding out for a higher fee, but the fact that negotiations have advanced suggests Frankfurt believe a deal is possible before the window closes. Onyedika’s profile fits a team looking for balance rather than headline-grabbing glamour.

The story matters because Frankfurt have been active in shaping a squad capable of competing on several fronts, and Onyedika would arrive with a strong reputation in Belgium. The club’s willingness to return with a better bid indicates he is not just a backup option but a key target. With Bundesliga rivals and other European clubs also tracking midfield talent, Frankfurt may need to move quickly if they want to avoid a bidding war. If completed, the transfer would strengthen a central area that often decides whether a team can sustain pressure over a full league season.

FC Köln have sent Bosnia and Herzegovina international Jusuf Gazibegović on loan to Polish side Widzew Łódź, with the deal including an option to buy. The 25-year-old right-back was told early that he no longer fit Köln’s Bundesliga plans, making the move a clean break from a frustrating spell in the cathedral city. Gazibegović joined Köln as their first signing after the club’s transfer ban ended, but he managed only one 22-minute Bundesliga appearance before being loaned back to Sturm Graz in January. The latest move gives him a chance to reset and play regularly again.

For Köln, the decision is as much about squad management as it is about the player. Gazibegović made 11 appearances during the club’s 2024-25 2. Bundesliga promotion campaign, but Sebastian Sebulonsen overtook him once the team returned to the top flight. Offloading a player outside the plans creates room for new arrivals and reduces wage pressure, which is especially important for a club still adjusting to life back in the Bundesliga. Widzew, meanwhile, are getting a defender their sporting director says is expected to compete for a prominent role rather than merely fill out the roster.

The Bundesliga is reviewing a major investment proposal from US financial firm Apollo, with the league confirming it has received an unsolicited offer for a debt-financing model tied to the national media rights business. Market Screener reported that the proposal could be worth at least €1 billion, while the league itself did not disclose the size of the offer. The DFL also confirmed there had been an informal exchange in June in New York between Apollo Sports, Bundesliga committees and several clubs. That disclosure turns a rumour into a serious governance issue for German football.

The significance is clear: Bundesliga clubs are looking for new capital to narrow the financial gap with the Premier League, but any outside investment raises questions about control, long-term rights income and competitive balance. The league has already set aside a strategic reserve from media revenues and signed a partnership with Adidas, yet it is still evaluating broader financing models. If the Apollo proposal advances, it could reshape how German football funds its future, especially in areas such as digital growth and streaming infrastructure. If it stalls, the debate over outside money will only intensify.

Werder Bremen ended their pre-season friendly against VfL Bochum with a 2-0 victory, but the bigger story was the return of Felix Agu from injury. The 25-year-old Nigerian defender started for the first time since a muscular problem interrupted his preparations and completed a controlled outing before being substituted in the second half. For Bremen, the result was useful, yet Agu’s presence mattered more because it suggested one of their dependable defenders is on track for the 2026-27 Bundesliga campaign. His return also offers reassurance to Nigeria ahead of the season.

The match was part of Bremen’s pre-season programme in Austria, where the coaching staff are carefully managing players’ loads. Agu’s comeback gives the club another option in a back line that will need stability once the league begins, and it arrives at a time when confidence is building after a solid summer. A friendly win over Bochum is not a headline result by itself, but the combination of victory and fitness progress is exactly what a Bundesliga club wants before opening day. Bremen will hope the defender’s return is the start of a fully fit campaign.