The 1. FC Köln has already presented new additions for the coming season in the offspring. With the professionals, however, those responsible deliberately take time.
Already in mid -February, the 1st FC Köln with Safyan Toure presented the first new addition to its own U21. The right wing comes from the youngsters of the 1st FSV Mainz 05 and is intended to strengthen the offensive of the Cologne. The double strike on the transfer market finally followed this week.
First, the Cologne team announced the commitment of Arian Güzel on Tuesday. The 16-year-old midfielder comes from FC Schalke 04 as captain of the current U17 to FC and is initially to play for the A-Juniors at Geißbockheim. Shortly afterwards, the FC Academy officially made Luc Dabrowski. The 19-year-old central defender switches from VfL Bochum to FC and-with a clear professional perspective-will first appear for the U21.
In the meantime, the professional team is waiting in vain for enforcement reports. Neither newcomers have already been announced for the coming season, nor have the Cologne commented on the future of those players whose contracts expire after the season. At least there are currently ten professionals who are currently only tied to the club until the end of this season.
It is already clear that Tim Lemperle and Mathias Olesen will leave the club in summer. The latter had recently confirmed his farewell after six years after no new contract offer had been presented to him on the part of the FC. Lemperle, on the other hand, is moving to TSG Hoffenheim for the coming season, the contracts are already signed. The transfer -free transfer in view of the current season and the still open goals of both clubs has not yet been announced.
While the Kraichgauer is still fighting for relegation, FC is still in the middle of the race for the promotion places. This is also the reason why those responsible will continue to comment on open personnel issues. Even in that case, a decision should already be made and communicated internally. The full focus should be fully valid for the end of the season.
The contracts of goalkeeper Matthias Köbbing, Philipp Pentke, Jonas Nickisch and Anthony Racioppi also expire. While Köbbing is to be kept fourth goalkeeper, the FC will probably pull the purchase option for Racioppi. Meanwhile, Pentke and young keeper Nickisch are likely to leave the club as well as its own family of Marvin Obuz. The offensive dribbler could not prevail at FC in the 2nd Bundesliga after returning from Essen.
Ljubicic and Maina should extend
In addition, the future of veteran Mark Uth is unclear. The injury-plagued 33-year-old confirmed on Wednesday that he had already held a conversation with sports director Christian Keller, but has not yet been made to have been decided whether he would like to continue his career. In addition, the contracts of Dejan Ljubicic and Linton Maina end in summer.
The FC would like to extend with both, but the duo makes its future dependent in particular on the League of Cologne in the coming season. Maina in particular had already emphasized that they would like to stay at FC and to extend his contract, provided that the ascent succeeds this summer. The same could also apply to Ljubicic after the Austrian actually wanted to switch to VfL Wolfsburg in 2023.
In the meantime, however, the 27-year-old should also be able to imagine a future at the Geißbockheim. However, the “Bildzeitung” reports, ex-FC trainer Steffen Baumgart and the former managing director Horst Heldt are now to have entered the advertising for Ljubicic and Maina. The duo should therefore be on the list at the 1st FC Union Berlin.
However, a decision will not be made at least for as long as the outcome of the season is still uncertain. At the latest after the 34th matchday – unless the Cologne residents come to the relegation – those responsible then have to communicate some personal details and transfers.