Consultant clarifies over the status
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The rumors about a departure from 1.FC Köln accompany Dejan Ljubicic almost throughout his time in the club. Since his transfer -free change from Rapid Vienna to Effzeh in the summer of 2021, the midfielder has been repeatedly associated with a transfer, so far he has remained. The 27-year-old’s contract will end in the coming summer, but talks are already underway. The current status now announced consultant Christian Marth.
“The mutual interest in continuing the collaboration is still very high,” he is quoted by the “Kölnische Rundschau”. At the beginning of the week there was a meeting between Marth and the Cologne responsible – he describes this as a “good conversation in a pleasant atmosphere”.
However, an agreement is not yet in sight, which is mainly due to the unclear sporting situation of 1. FC Köln. Due to the late equalizer in the derby against Fortuna Düsseldorf (1-1) on Sunday, Hamburger SV moved past the cathedral town again in the table. The lead over the 1st FC Kaiserslautern on the relegation rank is only two points.
Since Ljubicic, with a market value of 5 million euros the fourth most valuable player in the 2nd Bundesliga, would definitely like to play first -class in the coming year, an extension is initially put on hold. “As long as there is no clear sporting tendency, it is difficult,” explains Marth, adding meaningfully: “The interest in Dejan from the first league confirms us in our attitude.” This season, Ljubicic comes to five goals and three templates in 22 missions, all from the start. Interest was said to be VfL Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in winter.