Big ambitions
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In the 2nd Bundesliga, Hannover 96’s defense is still the measure of all things with only 16 goals conceded. One person who is partly responsible for this is central defender Phil Neumann. Together with Marcel Halstenberg, he symbolizes the Lower Saxony defense bar. According to a report, the 27-year-old, who was already considered a candidate for a change last summer, is once again in demand across Germany’s borders.
The “Bild” newspaper, citing its own information, reports that the English third division club Birmingham City has intensified its pursuit of signing Neumann and is preparing a high-value offer for the Hanoverian. The Blues are said to have made an offer of 4 million euros for the former Kieler am Maschsee in the summer. Since 96 had already let Bright Arrey-Mbi move to Braga for a fee of 6.2 million euros, the sale of another central defender was reportedly not an issue.
From aspiring for promotion in the German lower house to England’s 3rd league? What sounds unlikely at first could seem at least a little less absurd at second glance. Birmingham is currently in third place in the table, just one point behind Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers, but coach Chris Davies’ team has fewer games. Club boss Tom Wagner has not kept his big plans for the club, which last played in the Premier League in 2011, quiet in recent months. “Our ambitions will blow you away,” he said in the fall.
Last summer, the third division club topped the spending of twelve Bundesliga clubs on the transfer market. According to reports, Wagner wants to invest another three-digit million sum in the team next summer, which is the most valuable in League One with a squad value of 42.5 million euros. There are also plans for a new stadium with up to 60,000 spectators for the UK’s second largest city.
Hannover’s Neumann to England? Knight could be backup
Neumann’s contract expires at the end of the season; the player and club were unable to agree on an extension in the autumn. To date, he has played all 15 games of the season over the full distance, and the right-footed player has more than doubled his market value to 2.5 million euros since arriving in Hanover. Neumann was recently linked to league rivals Hertha BSC. It is questionable whether 96 would let him go early in the winter if there was a lucrative offer in order to collect a transfer fee. But it will also depend on further plans and options when it comes to transfers. Short-term investments in the offensive would be possible. With the Englishman Josh Knight, who was signed in the summer and recently played against Cologne and Ulm, Hannover would have a back-up for Neumann.
Coach Stefan Leitl recently said in an interview with Transfermarkt with regard to new signings in the winter transfer window: “We are always in intensive discussions with regard to the squad, it is naturally a constant process. If there is a possibility that the squad can be strengthened and the implementation seems realistic, we will certainly think about it. But for this to happen, many necessary aspects must be met. I’m happy with my team as it currently stands. Even if other teams may have a different roster than us in terms of squad width and top management.”