With the great win over Dortmund a critical half-season ends. After a horrible start under Dutt with 4 points in 9 matches Skripnik and Frings brought the team back on track, but with 17 points we are still in the relegation zone. Time to react on the transfer market.
First confirmed transfers: - Nils Petersens joins SC Freiburg on a loan. - Levin Öztunali joins Werder on loan from Bayer Leverkusen for 1.5 seasons.
Nice moves being made already. Hopefully Petersen can make his time on loan productive at Freiburg. Would help to get his career back on track and us too if it raises value for potential sale in the summer. I've also been reading Southampton has expressed interest in Elia. Would be incredible if that goes through. We can clear even more salary space in the budget and finally move on. Öztunali is a top young talent, really glad to have him on board. Great chance to boost his development and he has the diverse skill set to improve our team. He gives us another option and should be an immediate upgrade over Fritz and Makiadi. Also pretty neat that Uwe Seeler's grandson is now with us. Welcome to Werder Bremen!
I can see Elia having sucess at Southampton. They play a system with wide midfielders and with Koeman they have a Dutch manager who can be more direct to Elia than the Werder coaches. At Werder I don't see a future for him, we have younger players that better fit into our system.
Good progress on discussions with Southampton regarding Elia #Werder GM Thomas Eichin: "It's true, we're in discussions. It's possible, that an agreement can be reached soon." #Elia #SaintsFC [Bild]— worum.org (@worum_org) December 22, 2014
Kicker and FC Southampton report of an agreement and Elia joins the saints on loan until summer with an option for a permanent signing. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20141224-eljero-elia-signing-southampton-loan-2162424.aspx Their system and playing style should suit Elia better. I hope he has a good time and performs.
Werder is in negotiations with Frankfurts goalie Felix Wiedwald (24). Wiedwald replaced this season Frankfurts first goalie Trapp ten times and showed good performances. He is born near Bremen, a former Werder youth player (from the age of 9-20) and was Skripniks first goalie when he trained the A youth. Media report that the player wants to join Werder, but the negotiations with Frankfurt could be tricky. Wieldwalds contract will end in summer, so remors say that Werder only offered less than 0.5 million € as a transfer fee. --- While our team traveled to Belek, Turkey, for their trainings camp Ludovic Obraniak will join the team some days later. Werder allowed him to travel to Rize for a few days due to a concrete interest in a transfer (probably loan) by Turkish club Rizespor.
Werder have shown interest in Amir Abrashi from Grasshopper Club Zürich. A central midfielder who can provide depth and also another option depending on how the negotiations with Junuzovic work out. Abrashi's contract runs out at end of the season so he can be available on free transfer. Definitely a potential summer target to follow.
Really good movement being made, with Obraniak's move to Rizespor nearing completion. He's reported to have arrived at the club and will undergo a medical on Wednesday morning.
Obraniak really did not fit in Werder. Besides his great FK goal last season he could only provide little. Going with the current young team into the rest of the season may be tricky, but as Marco Bode stated today, new signings are also not without any risk. Nevertheless I hope that Werder analyzes the situation honestly and tries some to strengthen the squad temporarly with loan deals, so the young players emerging still have a positive perspective.
Klose returning? http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/14/werder-bremen-target-miroslav-klose-lazio eight years on since the bayern move I wonder how the werder fans still welcome him or not......
I'm pretty neutral about this. What's most important is that we gain as many points as possible and stay in the BL. If Miro can provide goals and help decide some matches that would be great. There's other aspects he can bring such as veteran experience to help mentor our young strikers in Selke and Lorenzen. Though fitness and stamina is going to be a problem for someone his age, so he'll probably have to play in the joker role. The main obstacle now is cost and whether he fits in our budget. If Lazio want a transfer fee of some sort, then it's not likely to happen. I see this more of a summer possibility.
Klose gave a statement that he does not want to return to the Bundesliga now. His exit from Bremen broke some china. Having such an experienced player in the team is helpfull for youngsters, but it must fit (see Makiadi or Obraniak).
Elia just netted both goals for Southampton in their 2-1 away win against Newcastle. Under a dutch manager, I think he's gonna shine. Just look at that hug of love after his first goal Nailed it, thus far
Wow this rumor came out of the blue. Ekici's new club Trabzonspor is reportedly now in discussion for signing Felix Kroos from us. Probably unlikely but I'd like to see a good 2-3 million transfer profit if were to happen. Kinda wish they'd show this interest for Makiadi instead...
Hey guys, I was quite busy the last weeks and so one transfer fell of the radar. We have for the 2nd part of the season a new goalkeeper: Koen Casteels joins us until summer as a loan from Hoffenheim (or Wolfsburg, who bought him and so from summer he will go there). I usually prefer permanent solutions, but this transfer could make sense. Eichin and Schröder have the chance to prefer a transfer on a not too bad keeper in summer (which is easier than now: contracts end, longer transfer window, ...). However I wish Koen all the best for the time at us.
Word going around now is that Junuzovic is the main player Trabzonspor is after. Appears to be substantial possibility behind this rumor with fair amount of buzz around this on Transfermarkt. Selling Juno at this halfway point is a tough decision. He's been our best player this season with those clutch free kick goals saving us on many occasions. The fighting spirit he shows game after game will be much needed in the second half.
Defensive reinforcement on the way. We're closing in on Jannik Vestergaard from Hoffenheim. Looks like they want 2.5 mio for this move. Bit of a gamble for that price, he's a young centerback with potential but still has yet to settle in the Bundesliga. I'd prefer if it was a loan with purchase option.
Eichin rejects Trabzonspor's offer and rules out all moves for Junuzovic this winter. Good clear decision made putting that matter aside and will help the team focus for the second half. We can also continue working towards a potential contract extension. The Vestergaard move is complete, 2.5 mio transfer and new contract until 2018. We also sign Germany U20 player, Michael Zetterer from SpVgg Unterhaching. Promising young goalkeeper and was already a full starter for their senior team this season. Management rates him highly and provides another option for us in the future. Meanwhile, Richard Strebinger is sent out on loan to 3.Liga club, SSV Jahn Regensburg for rest of the season.
The Danish Mertesacker. Hopefully just like Per, he utilizes his height and strength advantage to become a force at winning aerial duels and set-piece scoring threat.
Luca Caldirola has also been a topic in transfer circles recently especially now with the arrival of Vestergaard. Several Italian clubs have shown interest in signing him from us, most notably Lazio.
Oliver Hüsing sent on loan to Hansa Rostock for rest of the season. Good opportunity for him to collect more match experience.
Haha, totally unexpected but nice to see him break out of that slump. The other players on loan also had a good impact debut. Strebinger had a clean sheet victory with Jahn Regensburg. While Hüsing's Hansa Rostock also won today.