Cancellation, ambitions & Vuskovic clause
© Imago
Stefan Kuntz, sports director at Hamburger SV, is the challenge Bundesliga with the north German after seven years of second class with humility, but also wants to pursue new goals. “The past is important to gain experience, and the future is important to develop goals and ambition. We are ambitious! Basically, I live extremely in the here and now. And in football, the focus is on the best possible work in the presence. We were long gone. That is why we are realistic enough to know that we as a promoted will not immediately rock the first league,” said the 62-year-old in interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung“.
After redemption in May with the acclaimed return to the upper house, there was not much left of the team of the previous year. 12 new additions for a total of 8.8 million euros were obliged, while 18 players – including cornerstones such as Ludovit Reis (Club Bruges) top scorer Davie Selke (Basaksehir) – left the club.
On the transfer market, however, not everything could be implemented as desired for the HSV, as Kuntz revealed: “Shortly after the ascent, some believed that only Luka MoDrić or Thomas Müller HSV-adequate would have been. But the truth is: We were on Fabian Rieder and William Bøving-one chose for Augsburg, the other for Mainz. In the past, no competition for the HSV.
The Hamburgers have recently “been able to announce debt for the first time in half an eternity”, but in terms of sport, the goal of the Bundesliga promotion has been ran after years. “Every second division year hurts afterwards, financially and sporty,” admitted sports director Kuntz. It will “need years to work up this discrepancy,” said the 1996 European champion with a view to the last place in the TV money table. “And that means: we now have to do everything or at least a lot right.”
HSV had to be radically on the promotion squad – back door near Vuskovic
According to data, Kuntz ‘was demonstrated by data that the HSV would be the bottom of the Bundesliga when it comes to sprints, intensive runs and kilometers that have run, one would simply continue without any changes. “So we would have had no chance of staying in the class in life. So we had to radically take our squad – even if it hurts, of course, to separate from well -deserved players.”
On the home stretch of the transfer window, the red pants set three exclamation marks with the Arsenal duo Fábio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga as well as Tottenham loan Luka Vuskovic, brother of the HSV defender Mario Vuskovic until the end of 2026. “In the course of the negotiations there were ups and downs. But our persistence paid off. Luka wants to take the next step for us, but it should be almost impossible to agree with Tottenham after the season. But I would never rule out anything,” said Kuntz with a smile.
The “Picture“According to Tottenham, Tottenham has secured an emergency clause in the negotiations with the Bundesliga club. If the Londoners have acute injury worries in defense, they could bring back the Vuskovic, which was actually awarded until summer but then urgently needed.
Kuntz explains HSV guidelines for the near future
The HSV managers have shown patience in the personal details Sambi Lokonga and Vieira, both professionals have been observed for a long time. “Until shortly before the transfer of transfer, they were also outside of our range. When HSV, as a club from the Bundesliga, we had to wait until such opportunities open up – and then to be there,” said Kuntz. According to reports, HSV has secured a purchase option of 20 million euros for the Portuguese offensive man Vieira, who came loan from the Gunners. From today’s perspective, it is difficult to imagine that the north German even the extent that would be the new club record. “To pull his purchase option, of course, we have to stay in the league. And then I am the last one who – as I said – would rule out something,” said Kuntz.
In addition, the Hamburg sports boss, formerly 449 times in the Bundesliga on the ball, formulated how he imagines the former Dino: “Only when I get 100 percent of my performance does I know what I still lack in the best of the world. I am working every day to establish this way of thinking. This is our HSV guide for the near future.” After a draw and a defeat at the start, the club will travel to FC Bayern on Saturday evening (6:30 p.m.).