Despite being relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga, Hertha BSC is apparently facing the obligation of a former German international. A big hurdle is still to be overcome on the way to the transfer coup.
According to information from the TV broadcaster “Sky”, Hertha BSC is planning to strengthen itself for the coming season in the 2nd Bundesliga with midfielder Diego Demme from the newly crowned Italian champions SSC Naples.
Accordingly, Demme is even said to be in Berlin to hold initial talks about a move to Hertha BSC. The 31-year-old is basically ready to appear in the lower house for the old lady.
However, the licensing process is still hovering over the personnel. The cash-strapped club must prove that it has liquidity to the DFL by June 30, 2024 in order to avoid having its license revoked and being forced to be relegated to the regional league.
If Hertha BSC receives the license, the first transfers should be made in a timely manner – including that of Demme.
How much transfer fee does Hertha BSC have to pay?
For the one-time national player, the move to Hertha BSC would be a new start in Germany. At the beginning of 2020 he switched from RB Leipzig to Naples for at least 10 million euros. However, Demme missed the final breakthrough there. In 2022/2023 he has only made six appearances in Serie A so far.
Nevertheless, his market value is still estimated at around four million euros – certainly too much for Hertha BSC. Those responsible should hope that Naples will let its reservists, who are tied until 2024, go for significantly less money or even without a transfer fee.
After his training club Arminia Bielefeld, SC Paderborn and RB, Hertha BSC would be the third German club for which he played professionally. His CV includes 105 Bundesliga games and 126 appearances in the second division.