The 1st FC Köln remains only ten days to clarify the most important squad issues of this winter. Those responsible go back publicly.
The fact that Christian Keller was sitting on the podium on Thursday at the 1st FC Köln matchday press conference before the home game against SV Elversberg next to coach Gerhard Struber. No transfer is imminent, the sports manager of the billy goats did not want to announce or finish. He only replaced the sick license player director Thomas Kessler.
But since Keller was already there, he had to take a position to the most important personal details at FC. And there are still a few of them at the second division team at the end of the transfer window. An overview.
Jonas Urbig wants to leave the 1st FC Köln in winter, FC Bayern has already given interest in the goalkeeper talent and at the Geißbockheim. However, the FC rejected this. “I can’t say anything about it. We have to see what is still going on until February 3. I can’t rate that today,” Keller said smilied on Thursday.
However, the Causa Urbig is pushing. If the FC actually received seven million euros or even more money for the goalkeeper, this would be a financial quantum leap for the billy goats. And would significantly improve the negotiating position in the search for a new striker.
This new striker has not yet been in sight. There are rumors, including Luca Kjerrumgaard from Odenske BK. The impact striker has scored twelve goals in 14 games, but the Danes should request an average single -digit million amount for the attacker. Too much, especially since Odense plays in the 2nd league and has not proven Kjerrumgaard that he can also hit higher.
On Thursday, Keller said that “with some actors in rain exchange”. What sounds like the FC is about to make a decision, but is wrong. The FC hesitates. Although the striker problem in the squad is obvious and the pressure is also increasing internally, the sports director keeps it covered. “If we do something, we want to do something that we are sustainably convinced of.” Keller had already declared this in the striker question in the summer 2022 and 2023 shortly before the transfer period – and in the end no player committed.
Meanwhile, Keller also avoided Tim Lemperle on Thursday and a possible winter exit to TSG Hoffenheim. Although FC is looking for another striker anyway, Keller apparently believes it is at least theoretically possible that a lucrative offer for Lemperle will come on the table – and FC could become weak. “There is no new stand. Tim is an extremely important player for us. He should stay until June 30th,” said Keller.
What he apparently did not want to say: that Lemperle will stay in any case. Because apparently the FC does not want to make this statement. The background: The billy goats do not find a new striker, and possibly Lemperle could be a lever again to get to another attacker via Hoffenheim as a receiving club and beyond a millions. But this is hoped for it through Urbig. Urbig could be the domino stone that solves the other transfer questions at FC.