HSV transfer instead of FC extension
© Imago
Christian Keller, sports director of 1. FC Köln, revealed why the departure of center forward Davie Selke could no longer be prevented last summer from the perspective of the Domstadt perspective. Instead of extending his expiring contract, the 30-year-old switched to Hamburger SV to the 2nd league free of charge. At first, Selke let a deadline to pass the FC, afterwards the Cologneers did not want to do more than the attacker was ready for a signature.
“We would have liked to extend. But at some point it was also a strategic decision on whom we put on if we cannot extend it as we imagine. We then put on our two young players, also in connection with the fact that we deliberately change the hierarchy of the team a bit, ”said Keller of the“ Bild ”.
Selke switched from Hertha BSC to 1. FC Köln in early 2023, scored eleven times in 38 games. For the promotion aspirant HSV, he currently puts his best season – Selke scored 14 goals in 22 matches across competition. In 2024 he was brought to the Elbe as a supplement and possible deputy by top scorer Robert Glatzel (31). So far, the plan has been fully opening for both sides. Both parties are currently in discussions about a continuation of the collaboration – exit open.
1. FC Köln: Downs and Lemperle provide the gates after Selke
“He now shows the quality of Davie at HSV. I am all the more pleased that Tim and Damion took two players from their own stable, ”said Keller. At FC, the DAMION Downs (10 goals) and Tim Lemperle (9) mentioned by the manager are the best goal scorers of the current season – Lemperle will leave the club in summer, in all likelihood to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Manager Keller brings to the migrated Selke a “very high appreciation” “because he has fully contributed here in his time”. The Cologne boss justified: “He got into the service of the FC at the expense of his own health. Perhaps he could not have played in April after his opened midfoot. But he said, ‘I absolutely have to play now – everything is probably good.’ Unfortunately, it was not good afterwards. However, it shows that Davie hit everything here. “