Erik ten Hag is reportedly on the brink of being sacked by Bayer Leverkusen, just two games into his Bundesliga reign, having managed only one point from his opening matches. The pressure on the former Manchester United boss intensified after Leverkusen's disappointing start, which saw them lose 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim and then squander a 3-1 lead away against 10-man Werder Bremen to draw 3-3.

The club has notably refused to publicly back Ten Hag, who replaced Xabi Alonso. Alonso had led Leverkusen to a remarkable unbeaten domestic double in 2024 and reached the Europa League final, following up with a second-placed finish last season before returning to Real Madrid in a coaching capacity. Ten Hag’s short tenure stands in stark contrast to his predecessor's success.

Ten Hag's own managerial history includes three consecutive Dutch titles with Ajax before taking over at Manchester United in 2022. Despite winning the FA Cup, he lasted two and a half years at Old Trafford, being replaced by Ruben Amorim in October 2024 after United found themselves in 14th place, having won just four of their first 14 matches. He joined Leverkusen in May after a seven-month absence from the game.

Currently, Leverkusen sits 12th in the table. The under-fire 55-year-old manager has attributed the team's struggles to the players' readiness and fitness. “The players aren't ready,” Ten Hag stated. “We have a new team and some of the players aren't at all fit enough to play. The team didn't function at all during the final stage of the game. That's just the way it is. They need to bring more intensity and get fitter in order to meet my standards.”

The situation of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface further complicates matters for Leverkusen and Ten Hag. The 24-year-old has endured a difficult summer, including a failed move to Al-Nassr and a failed medical for AC Milan. He has yet to play a game for Die Werkself this season, with reports suggesting he was demoted by Ten Hag. The coach explained Boniface’s absence, stating, “Last week he wasn’t there, and therefore he wasn’t in the squad. When he is there, then he can be part of the group. He trained with us the last two days, but now he has to fight for his place. When he is training every day, the whole week, then he can fight for his position.”

While no final decision on Ten Hag's immediate exit has been made, discussions are ongoing. A separation before the end of Deadline Day is not currently planned, but this could change after the international break. Ten Hag is determined to stay, asking for time to oversee a major rebuild and highlighting his contract which runs until the summer of 2027. Despite the team losing key stars such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, and Jonathan Tah, club directors are reportedly baffled by the team's poor performances against what they consider 'inferior squads'.

Should Leverkusen decide to part ways with Ten Hag, Victor Boniface could be a significant beneficiary. A new coach would likely offer the Nigerian forward a fresh opportunity to impress and reclaim a starting spot at the Bay Arena, potentially turning his difficult summer around.