Jonas Urbig is about to move to FC Bayern Munich. Negotiations with 1. FC Cologne are still ongoing. That’s what those responsible say.
The news that FC Bayern Munich has agreed on a transfer with Jonas Urbig this winter came at a special time from 1. FC Cologne’s perspective. When Sky reported on the record champions’ move on Wednesday evening, the “Billy Billy Goats” were holding one of their regular members’ meetings in Cologne’s Coloneum.
Sports director Christian Keller stood on stage together with coach Gerhard Struber and vice president Eckhard Sauren to answer questions from the more than 400 fans in attendance. After the Urbig report got around in the hall, the members were given the rare chance to immediately confront the FC manager with it.
Keller had no idea about the leaked news, but did not deny it either. “It is true that there are expressions of interest in Jonas Urbig from several top European clubs – and Bavaria is of course a top European club,” the Cologne sports director indirectly confirmed the record champions’ offer.
The second division autumn champions are said to have already rejected an initial offer from Bayern. The Munich team is said to have entered into the negotiations with five million euros, while FC is demanding at least a high single-digit million sum. It can be assumed that an agreement will be reached in the coming days – and that the “billy goats” will not prevent their home-grown team from joining Bayern.
“If a player has options that he may not have with us, then it is not so incomprehensible if a player thinks about such options,” Keller explained to the members in the Coloneum.
Urbig, awarded to Greuther Fürth last season, returned to Geißbockheim as number one after Cologne’s relegation. In the fall, however, coach Struber made the previously demoted Marvin Schwäbe the regular goalkeeper again. Since then, the disappointed Urbig has been sitting on the bench.
The fact that Bayern want to get serious in January is due to the injury to their previous number two, Daniel Peretz. He will be out for weeks due to a bruised kidney, so another deputy will come in for Manuel Neuer. If the transfer goes through, Urbig could mature alongside the goalkeeper legend for another year and a half and then take over his position.
Transfer candidate Urbig is currently not receiving any special treatment. “This is a player who is part of the normal preparation and has an important role. Of course, I plan with Jonas as I always do – even against HSV,” Struber assured, wanting to take the goalkeeper with him to the Hanseatic city.
Licensing department head Thomas Kessler added just as calmly: “If there is interest in our players, we deal with it. We talk about it internally and think about it.” In the case of Urbig, however, there is “nothing ready to be said”. Kessler even stated: “I assume that Jonas will remain our player.” Just a negotiation tactic? Bayern certainly have other plans.