By Roberto Lamprecht and Paul Gorgas
Hertha starts the training camp in Austria on Wednesday. By then, the XXL squad of almost 40 men should be significantly reduced. Coach Pal Dardai announces: “I’ll take a maximum of 26 field players and four goalkeepers.”
So a lot still has to happen. Many professionals are now threatened with the dreaded training group II.
Dardai announces: “Yes, some have to stay at home and do running training. We make sure that everyone also gets some ball training – under the supervision of a pro-licensed trainer.”
Clear signal: The expensive professionals, who financially blow up Hertha’s personnel budget (reduced from 80 million to almost 30 million after the relegation), should quickly get off the payroll and bring high transfer fees.
In the test on Friday at BFC Dynamo (2-0) and Saturday in Switzerland at Young Boys Bern, where various stars were not even in the squad, it was clear who was affected.
Krzysztof Piatek (3m base salary), Lucas Tousart (2m), Suat Serdar (1.8m) and Dodi Lukebakio (1.4m) are said to be sold. Not only are they top earners, they also have the highest market values: Lukebakio (12 million), Tousart (9 million), Piatek (7 million) and Serdar (4.5 million) should fill the empty coffers.
But even more players are about to jump!
The front page of Corriere dello Sport about Fiorentina’s interest in Dodi Lukebakio and Oliver Christensen Photo: Screenshot Corriere dello Sport
Goalkeeper Oliver Christensen (market value: 4.5 million) adorned the front page of “Corriere dello Sport” in Italy with Dodi Lukebakio on Saturday. Fiorentina (Fiorentina) have both on their wish list. Christensen, who was supposed to play in both Hertha tests, surprisingly canceled with slight muscular problems.
Jessic Ngankam (22) and Tolga Cigerci (31) were also absent from the tests. Striker Ngankam is set to move to Frankfurt and is expected to bring in 5m. Midfielder Tolga Cigerci is about to return to Ankaragücü – for 350,000 euros.
Hertha needs fresh money! Also for other newcomers.
Among others, striker Serdar Dursun (31/Fenerbahce Istanbul) and midfielder Diego Demme (31/SSC Napoli) are under discussion. But the coal is still missing.
Why does Investor 777 pay nothing?
According to the agreement, the 100 million Americans will only pay down debt by 2025. The fifth newcomer, who was presented on Friday evening with ex-Union star Toni Leistner (32), also came from Belgium (St. Truiden) on a free transfer.
Due to lack of money, Hertha is currently relying on many talents, calling it the “Berlin way”.
But where does it lead?