With the new coach Gerardo Seoane, but without Ko Itakura: Bundesliga soccer club Borussia Mönchengladbach started preparations for the new season on Sunday (July 8th, 2023).
After the departure of the stars Marcus Thuram, Jonas Hofmann, Lars Stindl and Ramy Bensebaini and hardly any well-known additions, the Swiss Seoane is facing a difficult mission as the successor to Daniel Farke with the ailing ex-champion.
bill speculation around Ko Itakura
Rumor has it that Ko Itakura, who was absent from the 75-minute session in front of 1,500 fans in the sweltering midday heat at the Gladbach training ground on Sunday, like central defender Nico Elvedi, is probably about to make a change.
According to media reports, the Italian champions SSC Napoli have offered twelve million euros for the Japanese international. The departure of another top performer could be imminent.
Weigl surprised by Hofmann’s departure
At the start of training, midfielder Julian Weigl also said he was “surprised” at the Departure of Jonas Hofmann to Bayer Leverkusen. “Of course I would have liked to start the year with him. But everyone makes their own decisions.”
Hofmann, who was considered the favorite for the captaincy in Gladbach after Lars Stindl left Karlsruher SC, had an exit clause in his contract last week and switched to Leverkusen for ten million euros. Gladbach’s sports director Roland Virkus was then publicly angry about it.
Weigl, however, defended his Hofmann: “He obviously had the contractual opportunity to do so. It is then his right to do it.” The 27-year-old was also “not out of the clouds now. I was already aware that there would be a change,” emphasized Weigl. He is now considered a candidate for the captaincy himself.
midfield gem Koné will be out until early August
Manu Kone, who failed with the French U21s at the European Championships in Georgia and Romania in the quarter-finals and is also hotly courted, injured his knee in the last group game and will be out until shortly before the start of the season. “The important thing is that it’s not a serious injury. It will take about six weeks,” said Seoane.
According to media reports, Liverpool FC in particular is interested in signing Konés, which could bring Borussia 30 to 40 million euros. Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also considered interested parties.
Seoane confirms forthcoming honorary change
Newcomers Robin Hack and Grant-Leon Ranos were there on Sunday. Seoane also confirmed on Sunday that Gladbach are close to signing French winger Franck Honorat from Stade Brest.
“In terms of personnel, we are pretty confident that this will happen in the next few days,” said the 44-year-old Swiss. “This is a player who can replace Jonas’ departure from position and profile.”
