Andres Guardado will join Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the rest of the season and the German club will have the option to buy him this summer. The Mexican leave Valencia for the Bundesliga’s second place club, where he doesn’t fill an obvious hole.
Andres Guardado joins Bayer Leverkusen on loan
Bayer Leverkusen have competition for Sebastian Boenisch and, at the very least, much-needed cover at left back.
Manuel Queimadelos Alonso
Bayer have played a 4-3-3 almost exclusively this season with Sebastian Boenisch at left back and Son Heung-Min at left forward, the two places Guardado would most naturally slide into. With both Boenisch and Heung-Min playing well, the Mexican will have an uphill battle to bypass either, but it may be possible at left back.
Boenisch has been good this season, but he doesn’t provide the same attacking threat that Guardado does. If Guardado can find his best form again and show a little more defensive awareness than he did in his stint at left back for Valencia last year, he could wrestle the starting spot away from Boenich. Even if he doesn’t, Boenisch was hurt in December and watching Emre Can play out of position to cover was enough to make it clear that Bayer needed another left back, which they now have.
Mexico may not be thrilled to see Guardado move to a club where he will have to fight for playing time just before the World Cup, but Valencia are in financial trouble again and Guardado is one of three players they are letting leave on loan. Plus, Guardado will likely play at left back, which will make for an easier transition to the left wingback role he would play for Miguel Herrera so if he can take a starting spot at Bayer then this move might prove to be a godsend for El Tri.
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