In their search for reinforcements for the second half of the season, Hamburger SV is probably targeting two German U21 national players.
According to Sky, Yannik Keitel is on HSV’s radar. Accordingly, the SC Freiburg midfielder is a transfer target for the North Germans for the winter.
Keitel’s contract in Breisgau is only dated until the end of the season. If the Bundesliga club wants to collect a fee for the U21 international, he would have to be sold in January.
According to the report, Freiburg does not want to give up Keitel and is willing to take the risk of a free transfer. In the event of an early departure, the squad would be too thin given the double burden of the Bundesliga and Europa League.
However, if Freiburg strikes on the transfer market themselves, according to Sky, this could bring HSV into Keitel’s favor.
Keitel has been playing for SC Freiburg since he was a teenager. The 23-year-old has appeared in 66 competitive games for the professionals so far. However, the midfielder is not part of coach Christian Streich’s regular staff this season.
There are only five games in all competitions, and Keitel was in the starting line-up only once. Injuries repeatedly slowed the youngster down.
“Bild” recently reported that HSV wants to strengthen its defensive midfield position. This should not be an alternative to the currently unrivaled Jonas Meffert, but rather a “top transfer”.
Does HSV help itself from 1. FC Cologne?
Another player who is “high up” on the shopping list at HSV is Noah Katterbach from 1. FC Köln, according to “Sky”.
The full-back, who can be used on both sides, has been traded for the Rothosen for a long time.
Whether the Cologne team will let Katterbach, whose contract also ends in the summer of 2024, go in the winter probably depends on what prospects the U21 national player has under the new coach Timo Schultz.
Katterbach was already successfully loaned out to HSV in the second half of last season.