GLADBACH: salary costs reduced and squad tapered – plus in the overall market value

Deliberately no replacement for small service

Borussia Mönchengladbach spent 17.25 million euros this summer for newcomers, in return players were sold for 24.25 million euros – makes a transfer profit of EUR 7 million. Sports Managing Director Roland Virkus was now satisfied with the past transfer window, even if not all destinations were achieved.

“I am very satisfied with the transfer period”, Virkus was quoted by the “kicker” on the edge of the Gladbach test game against Schalke 04. “We have gotten guys who go our way, who know the framework conditions with us and be in BORUSSIA. In our opinion, we have added quality. Now it is time to develop these boys.” Six players presented the foals: Shuto Machino, Jens Castrop, Giovanni Reyna, Haris Tabakovic, Kevin Diks and Yannik Engelhardt. Overall, all new ones have an overall market value of EUR 35.8 million, the club left professionals worth EUR 28.5 million, which could increase the taxation of the squad.

Virkus didn’t want to lift one of these players out. “You can’t talk that out, that is decided on the pitch,” he emphasized. “Gio Reyna, we all know that, is a great footballer. He can make games alone. He is creative, moves perfectly between the lines. He will do our game well.” The midfielder came from Borussia Dortmund for 4 million euros. “Another type” is striker Machino, who was hired by Holstein Kiel as the most expensive transfer of the Gladbacher this summer for 8 million euros. “He is a player that we didn’t have in the squad, he is polyvalent, ball -safe, moves well in the rooms. He is also dangerous for standards, especially with his long throws.”

On the offensive, Borussia has to do without Tim Kleindienst (meniscus injury) and Nathan Ngoumou (Achilles tendon tear), whereby the lack of the first as captain and the most valuable professional weighs even more heavily. Virkus said that they were deliberately not to get a replacement for them, “because the players will come back at some point and then you have too many players for the positions. Therefore you have to take a calculated risk”. If hopefully everyone will be available again in the course of the season, be it “a very good squad,” emphasized the manager. “We managed to rejuvenate the squad and reduce salary costs.” The average age was 25.7 years in the last season, now it is 25.5 years.

A lot has been achieved in the past few weeks, but not everything. According to Virkus, this includes lending for Oscar Fraulo and Grant-Leon Ranos. “There was a market, but if they go, it also has to promise a good loan. In this case, it was the case that not all parties were convinced.” Ms.lo had meanwhile been traded at the 1st FSV Mainz. The Dänen contract ends in 2026, so it should have been extended if it was borrowed.