Bundesliga 2025/26 - Is there a league after Lohmann?

Bayern need to bring back more effective transitional football to their general possession style of play.

A good start to making this happen, is to strengthen their mid-field next season; a free transfer for Senß making most sense to me, and another free transfer for Wrede if they want to have future of the wnt's CM.
Oberdorf/Wrede ---- Tanikawa/Alara
---------------- Senß/Zadrazil ----------------

This ballance here would be fantastic, power, speed, strong technical ability, defensive responsibility, and legit goal scorers too...

Yes... Caruso a good player, but I'm not sure if she'll be happy competing for game time, when she should be a starter somewhere else.

Amani looking like a short term needs must signing, that doesn't make sense knowing Bayern easily capable of finding CM's from within this league with better attributes.

Looking at Forwards... Bayern have to improve wide forward depth. With there being two very clear options to do this too.

I know they've signed Dunst, and also have Potsi as a talented project; but there's also ready made options like Kaneryd not wanted by Chelsea, or Endemann about to be a potential free transfers too.

Dallmann having a solid season, you could see her still being relevant next season. But to take Bayern to another level offensively, they need transitional speed and skill on both wings.

------------------- Harder/Imane -------------------
Bühl/Kaneryd -------------- Dallmann/Endemann
This would be a legit upgrade for Bayern. But just one addition like Kaneryd, or Endemann, would be great too.

Going from this...
------------------ Tanikawa ------------------
---------- Stanway ---- Amani ------------
To this next season....
Oberdorf/Wrede ---- Tanikawa/Alara
---------------- Senß/Zadrazil ----------------

Going from this...
------------------- Harder/Imane -------------------
Bühl/Dunst -------------------- Dallmann/Padila

To this next season...
------------------- Harder/Imane -------------------
Bühl/Kaneryd -------------- Dallmann/Endemann

 

Get a new coach, Wolfsburg should be able to convince Cerci, or maybe Anyomi, to join alongside other new signings.

Seeing how selfish and one dimensional Beerensteyn has been this season, Cerci, or Anyomi, instantly becoming clear upgrades for a team like Wolfsburg in the strikers position next season.

Currently Endemann, and Bussy, feeling wasted within Lerch's system. While Zicai also having a terrible transition to the next level too.

It doesn't sound great thinking Huth expected to continue as a starter for Wolfsburg over the length of her latest contract extention.

Piljic signed, and Lattwein staying healthy, I feel Wolfsburg only a Mühlhaus type of addition away from significantly improving their mid-field depth enough to compete domestically Vs Bayern again.

----------- Peddamors/Mühlhaus -----------
--- Lattwein/Kielland ----- Minge/Piljic ---
Something like this forming a very physically and technically competent group of mid-fielders, that depending on game day rotations could form a series of strong CM's trios.

Defensively, I feel Wolfsburg are already set for the future. They just in need of a coach who can put together a compact/better organized team.

Levels/Pujols -------------------------- Linder/Bjelde
--- Küver/Bergsvand -- Dijkstra/Kleinherne ---
Wedemeyer's not even necessary here, but could fit in any role across the whole back 4. And this also leaving out Minge, who's likely to be one of the wnt'a starting CB for the foreseeable future too.

Would these new additions to attack and mid-field, be good enough to elevate Wolfsburg back into title contention, and see them improve within the UWCL...?
----------------- Ceci/Hoffmann -------------------
Zicai/Bussy -------------------- Endemann/Huth
------------ Peddamors/Mühlhaus ---------------
--- Lattwein/Kielland ----- Minge/Piljic ---

Your not replacing Popp, Pajor, Hansen, Harder... that's not going to happen in an organic nature for a club like Wolfsburg ever again.

But finding players who could generate enough goals to take them forward another level, definitely possible if Endemann, Cerci Bussy, Zicai, can be molded into an effective effective system...

 

Frankfurt are not looking like their going to be in a very positive condition next season, and have to be very careful how they recruit in the summer if they hope to stay ahead of teams like Leverkusen.

The players Frankfurt used to have access to, are now either chosing to stay where they are, or chosing to join rival leagues for teams with no hope of UWCL football.

So how do they improve without access to a strong youth team anymore, or having the ability to steal the best players from the teams just below them..?

I hope Arnautis can finally change his system, or he's just a coach who needs to be replaced so someone else go construct a team to take this club towards being a regular UWCL competitor.

Anyomi clearly leaving, should see a change the system, where the attack can be more conventional...
Memeti ---- Chiba ---- Blomqvist

Mid-field with Reuteler, and potentially Senß both leaving, I'd set up like this...
Freigang -------- New AM
------------ Gräwe ------------

Steiner for me one of the more impressive AM's I've seen this season. Even being a Hoffenheim youth product, she might be willing to join a rival like Frankfurt, for the simple fact it gets her closer to potential wnt selection...

Defensively is where Frankfurt falls apart. Veit being a teenager their best CB, with experienced wnt level FB's Riesen, and Lührßen, projected to leave too. I have no idea what they do next.

The best FB's outside the top 3 are Szenk, Janssens, Müller, Sterner, Gonzalez, Wamser, Mickenhagen, Gerhardt... if Essen get relegated, maybe Sterner being the only realistic option I could see leaving their current team for a new home like Frankfurt.

But I genuinely believe Leverkusen the biggest threat to 3rd place over the next 3 years... and should they sign a good replacement for Piljic, recruit a credible left side winger, and get Kramer scoring goals again... Frankfurt could be in trouble as soon as next season...

A lot depending on Frankfurt's big advantage of having a far better goal output than the teams beneath them remaining in place. It means replacing Anyomi, and Reuteler's 30 goal contributions ASAP!

 

Foriegn Watch....

Lohmann didn't feature for Man City in their 0-1 Cup win. Injured again, or simply not selected for the match day squad for other unknown reasons... who really knows anymore...

Knaak would come on as a sub for Man City, playing the final 10 mins. Her ratings for Man City consistently produing 7/10's... yet I'm still highly skeptical about this being all about her defensive qualities. (she has a higher rating the Girma this season lol..)

Nüsken saw 71' mins for Chelsea in their 2-1 Cup win. Starting in a AM role again, it appears she's firmly regained her status at the club... even if rumors of her being sold at the end of the season remain persistent.

Kössler would play 90 mins of her teams 0-0 draw. Continuing her role as a lone forward for her new team, I don't see how much longer this lasts, as her club has also convinced Sam Kerr to join them at the end of the WSL season.

 

When a young Lohmann initally caught peoples attention, she was considered an Oberdorf level talent. And she'd eventually break into Bayern's 1st team having a instant effect as one of Europe's best box to box CM's.

League titles would follow, UWCL semi finals, featuring prominently in important games, with hugely impressive individual perfomances, and significant moments like her contribution to Germany's Euro finals run in England.

Yet all of this instantly wipped away by the arrival of Straus at Bayern. And now after years of being impacted with relentless injury, still only age 25, without another shock career change I don't see how Lohmann regains what was lost...

Being convinced to rot on Bayern's bench for an extra year was a terrible decision, choosing to join Man City apparently even worse lol. Whatever she does next, has to come with an understanding it's a process of resuscitating her career now.

 

According to Sportbild, Bayern will activate the clause of Elisa Senß (200k euros) in summer...

There sources say... Senß joins Bayern next, season, plus speculate Frankfurt also seeing addition Lührßen join Wolfsburg, Reuteler and Gräwe moving to England..., while Anyomi supposedly hesitant between renewing with Frankfurt, or joining PSG.

 

Bayern fans don't seem to understand they already have Oberdorf as Stanway's direct replacement lol; not grasping how Senß would also be a legit upgrade over Amani, and needed squad depth if this club seriously intends to chase UWCL and domestic success at the same time.

Lührßen joining Wolfsburg sounding truly random to me, considering they already have 3 FB's suited to being LB's... two of these LB's also being senior internationals...

Reuteler moving to the WSL was already known. But Gräwe moving to the WSL... excuse me..., why would she seek this at the current stage of her career...?

The Anyomi situation really frustrating to see, as it appears her only options for UWCL football would be remaining with Frankfurt, or joining PSG; which doesn't make sense for her considering Wolfsburg is right there, and in need of a international quality #9.

So... are Wolfsburg still actively pursuing Cerci..? And will they be losing Levels or Linder this summer...?

Are rumours around Gräwe's future, based on Arnautis hitting a wall, and her underwhelming season for Frankfurt not meeting her obvious desire to become a regular senior wnt selection...?

Wolfsburg should be telling Lerch right now he's Kellermann's man, making him no longer wanted for the clubs new direction. At the same time pushing hard to recruit Mühlhaus, and Cerci, knowing it's in their best interest to retain Endemann.

But not even any hints Wolfsburg wanting Anyomi is very strange, while Lührßen joining them only makes sense if one of their LB's leaving..

 

WOW... People really forgot a younger Oberdorf would rise to prominence as a supremely effective AM, who found her self thrown into a DM role for the first time by Neid on the eve of a Euro's lol...

Before establishing herself as an elite DM for Neid's broken wnt, she was being used as a CB within the wnt, and openly stated to have despised it lol.

Oberdorf saying she wanted to move to Bayern as a fresh start to rediscover her more attacking traits lol. It's crazy seeing people already forget what Oberdorf provides to a mid-field.

Yes.. questions should be held over Oberdorf's ability to remain healthy. But age 24, it's crazy seeing people opinions online suggesting Oberdorf doesn't have the ability to lead a mid-field like Stanway...

LOL... the same Oberdorf who was one of the leagues top scorers as a teen with Essen, eventually winning domestic titles with Wolfsburg, and a leader in Wolfsburg's runs to UWCL finals, is now considered an underwhelming replacement for Stanway...

English player PR is something else... But Bayern fans will eventually understand Senß will be a major upgrade on what they currently have in DM options. And have nothing but a positive effect on allowing Tanikawa, Oberdorf, Alara, to be even more effective in attack too.

 

Now it's said Gräwe is in talks with Wolfsburg too lol...

 

Right now this is Wolfsburg mid-field next season...
--------- Peddamors/Vallotto ---------
Piljic/Lattwien --- Minge/Kielland

Gräwe is a progressive passing DM... Basically another version of Kielland. Exactly the same age, but slightly more athletic lol...

And if I'm not mistaken... Gräwe left Wolfsburg as a teen, to get more first team opportunities at a club who would actually give her game time lol.

So knowing Wolfsburg needs another AM, I can only believe Gräwe would be interested in Wolfsburg if Minge returning to a CB role, or one of the CM's leaving...

 

All this news confirms Frankfurt are about to enter rebuild mode lol. Losing the entire mid-field, both FB's, and their leading striker... wow.

If Arnautis can finally get some new ideas, maybe he still has a decent core to work with....
Memeti --------- Chiba --------- Blomqvist
---------- CM? --------------- Friegang -----------
-------------------- I.Acikgöz ------------------------
D.Acikgöz --------------------------------- Wolter
-------------- Ilestedt -------- Veit ----------------
----------------------- Winkler ------------------------

But it's very clear Frankfurt have A LOT of work to do if they hope to remian relevant over the next 3 years with both Hoffenheim, and Leverkusen, maturing over time.

 

I hope this is just bad speculation, but I'm seeing Gräwe being linked with Liverpool as her main WSL option.... In a 12 team league, Liverpool currently placed 10th...

Gräwe being someone who's still not even gaurenteed a regular wnt squad selection, it sounds like madness to leave a burgeoning UWCL level Frankfurt, to join a club that has been getting progressively worse for the past few years.

It sounds like Gräwe about to enter peak career suicide lol. And this while current teammates Senß, and Reuteler, both linked to Bayern and Arsenal.

Joining a potential 2026/27 relegation candidate would have made sense earlier in her career, but she chose to join a talented Leverkusen side after leaving Wolfsburg as a teen.

So of the 3 Frankfurt CM's said to be leaving, how is Gräwe as the one with highest potential being linked to Liverpool lol...

 

WOW Endemann to Liverpool! Poor Batfink, lol

 

Endemann really said forget competing in the UWCL, forget competing for trophies; no... the bottom of the WSL is the perfect next step in my career...

This does place better context on reports Gräwe potentially looking at taking a step backwards to join Liverpool too.

But if this is going to become the new norm, it places more pressure on a break away league providing better options for domestic talent to remain at home.

 

Bayern really looked at their wide forward depth, and thought it was perfectly OK to allow Endemann to join Liverpool for free..

Wolfsburg losing Endemann, also places greater importance on them recruiting better wide forward talent too.

Lerch's limitations seeing Wolfsburg's attack become pretty awful this season. They can't go into next season with a 35yo Huth, and Bussy, as their only competent wide options.

From Hansen joining Barca, to Sellner retiring, SJJ, Brand, and now Endemann leaving, the decline Wolsfburg's wide forward depth/quality has been insane to watch lol..

But I have some major issues with there being absolutely no sign of Bayern making any inquiries over Endemann possibly improving the otherwise incredibly concerning lack of depth out wide...

 

Cerci will not join Wolfsburg without signs of Lerch leaving. She already worked with him at Hoffenheim, and knows how mediocre that experience was.

Meaning, rght now... Zicai, Bussy, Huth, Hoffmann, are looking like being a very underwhelming list of forwards for this club to take into a new season.

Should Wolfsburg miss out on Cerci, and have no ability to get Anyomi, I don't see how this club finds another wide forward who can provide at least 20 xG next season...

61 league goals so far this season for Wolfsburg, only 7 more goals scored than Frankfurt, and 20 behind Bayern lol. The distance between Wolfsburg's attack, and Bayern's attack, only set to increase.

Wolfsburg's time of domestic dominance was obviously at an end two years ago. But if the best talent in this league continues to leave, unlike what happened in the past, there's no longer a clear pathway for Germany to support a remotely competitive top two anymore.

The quality of play remianing surpringly high for lower and mid table clubs. The top of this league has been comparatively poor for a while now.

So even if we need to see Bayern finally establish themselves as a legitimate UWCL finalist level team. Damn... it really feels like we need a certain well known club to enter the nations top league, to become a destination to recruit and retain more top talent within Germany...

 

I really hope Endemann's career doesn't go into free fall... this transfer having all the warning signs of Germany potentially losing another player of promise..

Too many times talented players on the rise join "projects", and end up losing years of their career to developmental stagnation.

 

Just waiting for the announcement of Gräwe joining Liverpool, Cerci joining a club just as random like Everton, with Anyomi headed to PSG or Paris.

LOL... Anyomi joining PSG or Paris, being the only German wnt player here who'll be part of a regular end seaosn top 3 finish domestic club, participating in UWCL football every season.

All of this player movement the kind of nonsense that allows the wnt coaches to stick with Hoffmann being the first choice #9 come the WC...

It's crazy to think the wnt potentially stuck in a time line, Hoffmann the only remaining credible #9 left within the top domestic league... (Fudalla isn't a traditional #9)

If Barca actually had money, we could have also seen Bühl taking the same decision as Brand to leave Germany; and now Endemann joining the list of first team wnt wide forwards all playing abroad.

Bayern need to stop trying to be so clever, and give Wrede a new home. That way they'll have Wrede, potentially join Oberdorf, Alara, Senß, as the present/future of the wnt's mid-field being all in one place.

Wolfsburg managing to retain Küver sounding increasingly surprising right now. If the wnt coaches ever wake up to the fraudulent nature of Knaak, it means we'll see almost the entire defense consistently filled with domestic players.

Making me wonder... what's being discussed between coaches and players right now, for so many of Germany's prominent forwards to be actively seeking transfers to random foriegn teams...

Schüller, Kössler, as two of the leagues best forwards have already gone. Brand left as a great talent with bad end product, while Martinez not great in the 1.Bundesliga found a way to leave too. And now Endemann leaves, with Anyomi, Cerci, set to follow lol.

Yes, Däbritz, Lohmann, Magull, Lohmann, have all left German football while being prominent wnt members. But this new trend with so many German forwards jumping ship doesn't feel like a conscience...

 

Endemann & Anyomi’s switch might be the turning point where Germany’s foreign legion stronger than Bundesliga’s domestic ones;

Endemann……Anyomi….….Kossler

Nuskin………..Brand……….Martinez

Rauch……Knaak…..Hendrich ….Muller

Berger

subs; Magull, Lohmann, Schuller , Marozan

vs

Buhl……… Cerci……….Wamser

Senss…….Dallman……Freigang

Kett……Minge…..Kuver…Gwinn

Johannes

subs; Zicai Vick Grawe, Linder