Fuss over two youngsters from 1. FC Köln: Tim Lemperle’s agent criticizes those responsible for FC, Max Finkgräfe is said to be courted by a Champions League club.
From a purely sporting perspective, things could hardly be going better for 1. FC Köln at the moment. With 16 out of 18 possible points from the last six second division games, coach Gerhard Struber has led the “Billy Billy Goats” to second place in the table, which would mean direct promotion at the end of the season. With another win in the first half of the season final, on Sunday at 1. FC Kaiserslautern, there is even a chance of first place.
However, one of the guarantors of this upswing continues to cause a lot of stir. Or rather: his advisor. Dusan Jevtic, who represents the interests of Cologne’s top goalscorer Tim Lemperle, publicly shoots against FC sports director Christian Keller.
Lemperle’s contract expires on June 30, 2025, and from January 1, the attacker can officially sign with another club. But even though the turn of the year is approaching, the FC has not made an offer to extend its contract to its homegrown team. Consultant Jevtic reports in the “Sport Bild” about a meeting with the “billy goats”, at which the head of the licensing department, Thomas Kessler, but not the managing director, Christian Keller, appeared at the beginning of December.
“The conversation with Thomas Kessler was pleasant,” explains the player’s agent, “but if the person who makes the final decision doesn’t seem to want to talk about Tim’s future, 1. FC Köln’s interest in an extension can’t be particularly great be.” FC sports director Keller did not want to comment on the issue when asked.
As the “Geissblog” learned, the story told by consultant Jevtic is by no means the whole truth. The club and the players are said to have agreed to discuss the future last summer when it became clear in which direction the Cologne team would develop.
In November, when FC stabilized in terms of sport and climbed further up the table, squad manager Kessler sought a conversation with Lemperle. The problem from Cologne’s perspective: The U21 national player and his agency “Rogon”, which is controversial in the industry, had already forced negotiations with TSG Hoffenheim contrary to the agreement from the summer.
Even if consultant Jevtic recently denied the speculation: It is certain that Lemperle will join Hoffenheim on a free transfer in July 2025. In the opinion of the Cologne team, the criticism now expressed serves the sole purpose of making the upcoming change as player-friendly as possible.
Jevtic even adds to the “Kölnische Rundschau” newspaper: “Unfortunately, there was never an offer from 1. FC Köln for Tim Lemperle. That’s why Cologne is left out of the grid regarding Tim’s future.” They will “now deal with what is best for Tim” and decide “around Christmas”.
In addition to Lemperle, another Cologne youngster could be drawn to the Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart is said to have kept an eye on Max Finkgräfe in its search for a new challenger for national player Maximilian Mittelstädt. This is what the “Kicker” reports.
At FC, the left-back is currently only a replacement behind Leart Pacarada. Gerhard Struber has only had the U20 national player start twice this season so far. Among other things, in the cup round of 16 against Hertha BSC – when, ironically, a Stuttgart scout sat in the stands of the Rheinenergiestadion and took a close look at Finkgräfe.