Backup for Nmecha
If coach Niko Kovac has his way, the courted Bartosz Bialek (20) should stay at VfL Wolfsburg. The Poland U21 international, who was awarded the “table footballAccording to him, has aroused interest at home and abroad is planned as a backup for regular striker Lukas Nmecha (23).
“I’m glad we have him. Lukas is doing very well, but football is fast. We always need someone to stand behind us. Bartosz is a very good player,” said Kovac, who “wasted no thought” on a change. Bialek was out of action in the first half of last season due to a cruciate ligament rupture and then made twelve appearances (no goal), mostly as a joker. In preparation for the new season, the attacker was sidelined after a training injury before making his debut in Saturday’s friendly against Brentford FC (4-0) after coming on for Nmecha in the closing stages.
Rumors surfaced as early as April that Hannover 96, for example, was interested in Bialek. In the course of this, VfL manager Jörg Schmadtke put a stop to a change and said that the club did not have “such considerations”. However, the 58-year-old also emphasized that Bialek “could perhaps be interesting for other clubs”. The Pole, who switched from Zaglebie Lubin to VfL in 2020 for 5 million euros and is one of the most expensive teenager transfers there, is still under contract with the “Wolves” until 2024.
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While Bialek should not be given up, it looks different for other players. “We have a big squad, too big a squad,” said Kovac of the Bundesliga’s largest squad of 36 players. “We have to reduce that down,” emphasized the new coach. “I have to have conversations that are little fun for a person and a coach. Those are the worst conversations you have to have. But I also have to tell the players what it looks like.”
Renato Steffen (30), Elvis Rexhbecaj (24), Jérôme Roussillon (29) and Marin Pongracic (24), who was recently absent due to illness, are considered sales candidates and were not nominated for the test against Brentford. Meanwhile, Kevin Mbabu (27) is about to be transferred to Fulham FC. Josip Brekalo (24) and Josuha Guilavogui (31), who were loaned out last season, should also look to other clubs.
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