Benedict Hollerbach’s move from second division promoted team SV Wehen Wiesbaden to Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln fell through because of the transfer ban imposed by the world association FIFA in May.
At least that’s what Cologne’s managing director Christian Keller said on Monday during the start of training at 1. FC Köln. “We spoke to Benedict very, very early on, but unfortunately we couldn’t accept the outstretched hand at the time when he really wanted to do it,” says Keller.
Hollerbach before moving to Union Berlin
While the managing director did not want to explain whether further changes have burst due to the interim transfer ban, coach Steffen Baumgart said: “That was the only thing that was delayed and changed because of this reason.”
Hollerbach is now facing a move to Champions League participants 1. FC Union Berlin. The Cologne side have signed former internationals Luca Waldschmidt (VfL Wolfsburg), Leart Paqarada (FC St. Pauli), Jacob Christensen (FC Nordsjaelland) and Jonas Nikisch (RB Leipzig) as the third goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper, right-back and winger wanted
As Keller confirmed on Monday in front of around 1,000 fans, a right-back, a second goalkeeper and possibly an attacking winger are to be signed.
Two veterans have left FC in Timo Horn (still without a club) and Jonas Hector (end of career), as well as Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), probably the best player of the previous season.
training start without Thielmann, Tigges and Katterbach
Due to injury, Baumgart had to do without Jan Thielmann, Steffen Tigges and Noah Katterbach for the start of training. While Tigges (after a shoulder injury) and Katterbach (after a cruciate ligament rupture) are still in rehabilitation training or rehab, Thielmann will be out until the fall with a muscle injury.
On the other hand, the 38-year-old goalkeeper Philipp Pentke (last Hoffenheim) trained on Monday. It is at least unlikely that he will be committed. “I know Philipp well from Regensburg,” said Keller: “He asked me if he could keep fit with us. I said we currently have a vacancy anyway. That’s the whole deal behind it.”
