Adam Hlozek is fortunate, in a sense, that so many of his Bayer Leverkusen team-mates have endured sluggish starts to the new season; Patrik Schick, Moussa Diaby, Jonathan Tah, Lukas Hradecky and co a shadow of their former selves.
Because, with much of the criticism aimed towards Schick and co, Hlozek’s own Bay Arena troubles have flown, to some extent, under the radar.
Since joining Leverkusen in a £15 million deal from Sparta Prague, arguably the most exciting Czech footballer of his generation has scored just once in 15 games across all competitions. He’s yet to open his account in the Bundesliga either.
The form that earned the 20-year-old forward admirers on all corners of the continent – while encouraging Leverkusen to invest such a hefty sum in securing his signature – has been seldom seen thus far on German soil.
Arsenal and Newcastle United wanted Adam Hlozek
“There was Newcastle. Lyon, Sevilla, Dortmund and Bayern Munich (were also keen),” explains Zbynek Hlozek, the forward’s father (iSport).
“However, we wanted to make a smaller step, so as not to jump to a mega club right away. When Leverkusen was almost done, we heard about a huge intervention from Arsenal. But the negotiation was already a long way along.
“The same with Borussia Monchengladbach. They spoke to Adam personally twice in the spring. They were excited about him, but they didn’t have the financial strength.”
Now, it would be extremely unfair to suggest Hlozek represents a ‘bullet dodged’ for the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle. The 19-time Czech Republic international is hardly the first talented young player who has taken his time to settle in new surroundings, particularly after moving to a much stronger and far more high-profile division. He won’t be the last.
Compatriot Schick, after all, scored just nine league goals in his first season at Leverkusen before hitting 24 the next. Hlozek has Leverkusen’s worst start to a new campaign in over 40 years to contend with too. Plus, the additional instability created by the sacking of Gerardo Seaone and the subsequent appointment of Xabi Alonso.
There were green shoots too during the 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen last time out. A game in which Hlozek notched his first assist for the club, setting up Moussa Diaby’s opener.
“It was his best performance at Bayer,” BILD wrote at full-time.
Positive signs, at last. For both Hlozek and Leverkusen.
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