Philipp Degen, 21-year old right back of FC Basle (Switzerland), is set to join Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer next summer. More on this tomorrow, I guess.
Keith's Response: Manoj, you and I currently have this going on the list, but I'll ask here and hope others will give us their opinions also. I know we are cash-strapped, but if there was some way to sell a player or trade a player to bring in Degen at the winterpause, why not do it? Basel knows they are going to lose the player to us anyhow and we could REALLY use him THIS SEASON, instead of waiting for next season. I was thinking of trying to sell Oliseh at the break. Maybe back to Holland. Maybe a trade involving Madouni. He's useless to us anyway and he might grow more in the Swiss league. Hell, maybe even look at selling Dede to Inter! He isn't going to re-sign with us anyhow. We won't be able to offer him the money he wants. We may as well get used to life without Dede....... BTW, aren't we also looking at bringing back Timo Achenbach next season?? Keith
Basel is rather pissed at Degen because he didn't extend his contract (rumor has it he had already given them a verbal agreement) - so I think a winter transfer is quite possible...
bvb09.de today confirmed that young (21y) Swiss right-back Philipp Degen will join Borussia on a Bosman free transfer next summer. His contract runs till 30.06.2008. More infos on the player later today on http://www.schwatzgelb.com!
Word is that Degen could move to Dortmnd in winter for 350.000-400.000 Euro. Degen himself could live with both solutions. IMHO: he will join in summer
An article I wanted to publish some weeks ago. Finally online: From summer on overtaking on the right will be allowed again! (jonam) Apart from the action on the pitch and financial concerns Michael Zorc and the scouting division are working in the background on the new face of our beloved Borussia. Their first catch was hooked in Swiss city of Basle. From summer on at latest Philipp Degen will be an alternative at least on The right-back position... Entire article: http://www.schwatzgelb.com/redirect.php3?target=artikel.php3?welcher=1420 Some pics: http://mediaschwatzgelbde.sportsandbytes.de/fotos04-05/buli/fch-bvb/
Right now it seems that the only change will be that Fernandez (RB/LB) is back from his loan deal at River Plate. Degen will most likely not join in winter but has already signed for summer. MvB is still a target of BVB but it will be very hard to get him. Though he is valued about 2 Mio Euro only at the moment we are struggling to find the funds to realise this deal. Plus I don't know whether he wants to join a team that is on the 14th spot right now. :-/
Degen (who will join us in summer) made yesterday his first appearance in the Swiss NT. Switzerland won a test match 2-1 against UAE in Dubai. Philipp was substituted at halftime for Haas and performed well. He even nearly scored by a header which was cleared on the goalline. Manoj