Calmund allays financial fears

REINER CALMUND, the Bayer Leverkusen general manager, has played down media reports that the club are in financial difficulties and may have to sell off several of their prized assets.

The Bayer company, a pharmaceutical giant all over the globe, had to withdraw its Lipobay medication from shelves worldwide but Calmund insists that would not have an adverse effect on the club.

"Bayer has still made huge profits despite the Lipobay problems. Then there have been the flotation and the investments in France," Calmund told Sport 1.

"The difficult economic climate has not affected the company as much as many believe. People are seeing problems that don't exist."

With Michael Ballack heading for rivals Bayern Munich in an estimated £9 million deal in the summer,  speculation has grown that the club would also offload stars such as Lucio and Ze Roberto who have attracted interest from a host of Spanish and Italian clubs.