After failed Benfica transfer: Wolfsburg’s Baku moves to “Sports 360”

Another exchange of advisors

Right-back Ridle Baku has had a difficult time at VfL Wolfsburg recently: when VfL won in Cologne on Matchday 2, the 25-year-old was not in coach Niko Kovac’s starting line-up for the first time since April – it was also enough for him against Hoffenheim four-time national player only 22 minutes from the bench. A last-minute move to Benfica Lisbon, which was reportedly intended, fell through shortly before the transfer window closed, and Baku has now changed its consultant agency.

Born in Mainz, he is now represented by “SPORTS360 GMBH”, whose clients include BVB professional Niklas Süle, Leipzig’s Timo Werner and Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos. Previously, Baku was a protégé of “Aka Global” and “Rogon”, it is his third agency change since the summer of 2022.

Benfica Lisbon is said to have been interested in loaning the homegrown Mainz player – Baku’s contract with Lower Saxony is dated until 2025. From the Portuguese point of view, a possible deal should also include a purchase option for the right-footer, who, according to reports, had proactively sought talks with “Wolfe” sports director Marcel Schäfer shortly before Deadline Day. However, no transfer took place. What already worked on August 12 was the signing of Joakim Maehle (26) for 12 million euros from Atalanta Bergamo. The Danish international has been a full-back since then and is a competitor for Baku.

Petrov, De Bruyne & Co.: The most expensive sales of VfL Wolfsburg

17 Max Kruse | 2016/17 to Werder | Transfer fee: €7.5 million

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Gallery as of August 8, 2023

16 Zvjezdan Misimovic | 10/11 to Galatasaray | Transfer fee: €8.5 million

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15 Obafemi Martins | 10/11 to Rubin Kazan | Transfer fee: €9 million

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13 Martin Petrov | 05/06 to Atlético Madrid | Transfer fee: €10 million

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13 Luis Gustavo | 17/18 to Olympique Marseille | Transfer fee: €10 million

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12 Tim Klose | 15/16 to Norwich City | Transfer fee: €11 million

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11 Bas Dost | 16/17 to Sporting CP | Transfer fee: €11.85 million

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10 Mario Mandzukic | 12/13 to Bayern Munich | Transfer fee: €13 million

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9 Wout Weghorst | 21/22 to Burnley | Transfer fee: €14 million

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8 Ricardo Rodríguez | 17/18 to AC Milan | Transfer fee: €15 million

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7 Ivan Perisic | 15/16 to Inter Milan | Transfer fee: €19 million

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5 André Schurrle | 16/17 to BVB | Transfer fee: €30 million

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5 Felix Nmecha | 23/24 to BVB | Transfer fee: €30 million

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4 Julian Draxler | 16/17 to PSG | Transfer fee: €36 million

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3 Edin Dzeko | 10/11 to Man City | Transfer fee: €37 million

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2 Mickey van de Ven | 23/24 to Tottenham | Transfer fee: €40 million

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In the past three seasons, the defender was absolutely set on the defensive flank of Wolfsburg and hardly missed a game. In addition to Benfica, FC Torino are said to have put out feelers to Baku in the summer. Baku’s market value has fallen continuously over the past two seasons to currently EUR 13 million: he had reached his former career high of EUR 25 million in the first year after his EUR 10 million move from Mainz to the Autostadt.

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