I hope it's cool with everyone that I get a new thread rolling in preparation for this summer's transfer period. As this season winds down, we look forward to another time for transfer and team building. With important players like Hunt and Iggy leaving, Eichin's management team will have to work towards finding suitable replacements for the team. Eichin has already mentioned that Werder won't be able to make transfer deals in the 5-6 mio range like in the past, so we'll have to work within a relatively strict budget. Finding a goal scoring striker is a priority, as well as finalizing a deal to keep Garcia.
A couple more topics in the news: Captain Clemens Fritz has confirmed he'll stay with the club for another season. The free transfer of Alejandro Galvez from Rayo Vallecano looks closer to happening. Though Werder are just waiting for the official terms to be finalized.
It comes down to scouting. Many clubs are able to do well with smart transfers on modest budgets. We're also having Fin Bartels join on free transfer. A wing attacker who can hopefully be a boost to the rotation and give us options in terms of lineup and formation. With Hunt leaving, I suppose Obraniak to fill a larger role. Aycicek is a talent who should be given a chance as well at playing CAM. With Fritz returning, I'm hoping he can provide guidance and gradual transition throughout next season for Zander (and/or Busch) to integrate with the team.
With Galvez getting close to finalized, I wonder if this means the end for someone like Lukimiya. Galvez would be the 4th CB on the roster, though it could also depend on the future plans for Prödl and if he extends on a new deal past 2015.
Yeah, Werder used the buying option (1.5 million € + 0.5 million € for the loan) on Santiago Garcia. He has a contract until 2017. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/..._werder-und-santiago---das-passt-einfach.html
Cimo Röcker and the Stevanovic brothers (Pedrag and Aleksandar) won't get a new contract at Werder. All three were very injury prone in the last seasons. I wish them all the best for their future, especially less injury bad luck.
Really good news to have Garcia stay. I've really grown to appreciate what he brings to the team as season progressed. He also enjoys playing here with the right attitude and grew to identify with the club.
With Oliver Baumann moving closer to a Hoffenheim transfer, reports that Freiburg is potentially looking at Mielitz as a replacement.
Dutt hoping that Zander or Busch can take the role of Ignjovski at right back: Dutt zu möglichen Rechtsverteidigern: Wir hoffen, dass Luca #Zander oder Marnon #Busch die Rolle von @Ignjovski einnehmen können! #werderpk— SV Werder Bremen (@werderbremen) May 1, 2014
Farewell to Hunt, Miele, and the others departing this summer. Congratulations to Aaron Hunt, who collected his Fair Play Award before his final @werderbremen home game #SVWBSC pic.twitter.com/Y3iSAOExBn— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) May 3, 2014
A couple rumours from the Greek league, one silly and one interesting. There's report from a Greek news source saying Werder and number of other clubs have been watching Panathinaikos' Marcus Berg. Former Hamburg player and a complete flop in the Bundesliga. No way this would really happen. The other rumour is a winger Nikolaos Karelis. 22 years old and plays winger at Panathinakos. Report saying that Werder have been scouting for a third consecutive match. Still very early but he sounds like a much more likely target.
He shows good skill, definitely a good talent. I remains to be seen though how he can do in a better league (I mean even Berg shines for Pana).
That Simon Zoller rumor could be interesting. Werder have good history with signing a striker from Kaiserslautern.
Mielitz has found a new club for next season. The search is complete, but he cannot specify details on which team it is yet. All that was said is it's south of Bremen lol. For me Freiburg still seems the likeliest destination.
Cristian Galano rumours coming back into discussion. Bari's sporting director confirmed contact has been made wit representatives of two German clubs regarding this player.
http://www.kreiszeitung.de/sport/werder-bremen/obraniak-denkt-schon-abschied-3535352.html Article in Kreiszeitung saying Obraniak is unhappy with his lack of playing time. He started off strong but has since diminished and has lost his place in Dutt's rotation. His recent injury has further distanced him, though he's back in training and should be available for the final game. Any thoughts on the Obraniak situation?
His Injury hasn't helped things but with the loss of Hunt he should get his chance to play more during summer training and then we shall see.
IMHO he did not even start strong, but his freekick goal was class and important for the rest of the season. If he thinks he is too good for Werder (which he did not show) and a club is interested he can leave. Sometimes club and player do not fit, but I hope he is still motivated at Werder and shows his class next season.
Eichin is working on contract extensions for Junuzovic and Prödl. With both contracts expiring next summer, the talks are for possible 3 yr extensions.
A pair of Swedish teenage talents from Malmö have been training with the Werder U17/19 teams this week. Oscar Mårtensson (winger) and Dennis Hadzikadunic (central defence), both born in 1998 took part in a trial game and various workouts with the youth teams. Mårtensson is one of the few players born in 1998 to be a regular to feature regularly with Malmö's U17, a team which became Swedish youth champions. Hadzikadunic is another important player on that squad and recently captained the Sweden '98 team in a match against Estonia. Youth sporting director, Thomas Wolter was impressed by the talents and had much praise. The lads will now return to Sweden as Werder will continue to monitor their upcoming development. http://www.fotbolldirekt.se/2014/05/09/bundesliga-sportchef-lyrisk-over-mff-duo-basta-pa-ar/
Report from Austrian source kurier.at that Werder are one of several clubs interested in Marcel Sabitzer from Rapid Wien. He's a RW player who can play on both sides and centrally as well. 20 year old, and has played for Austria internationally. Another interesting talent, looks similar to Karelis both fast wing players with good technique.
Lazio emerging as a club rumored to be interested in Aaron Hunt. I thought Besiktas were the front runners but those talks have faded a bit and seems like Hunt is still undecided. Meanwhile, one last encore and goodbye for Mielitz. He scores twice from penalty kicks for Werder while playing as keeper in an exhibition friendly.
Finally the Galvez transfer is confirmed. He joins us as a free transfer. http://www.werder.de/de/profis/news/49428.php Bienvenitos en Bremen, Alejandro. Te deseo mucho feliz y éxitos con nuestro equipo.