Damion Downs left 1st FC Köln. Sports director Thomas Kessler explains how he wants to react to the departure and talks about the further transfer plans of the promoted.
For a long time, Thomas Kessler fought Downs Downs. The sports director had presented the striker a highly doped offer to extend the supplement. “We could have imagined to continue with him, and our package we offered him was very lucrative,” the 39-year-old confirmed a few moments on Wednesday before the club officially confirmed the switch to FC Southampton.
“If a player still decides against it,” continued Kessler, “then you have to choose the best way for the club in the end.” This path brought the 1st FC Köln a transfer fee of eight million euros, including bonuses, a double -digit million sum from England could even flow to the Rhine in the end.
For the squad planner, however, the departure also means investing the money taken in another striker. However, despite the downs, Kessler in the storm does not currently see the greatest need for action. “The personnel does not put us under pressure because we got a very good striker with Ragnar Ache,” said the former goalkeeper. Although the FC is “natural” on the market, “but we don’t have to be nervous.”
It could be another classic nine like Ache, or a striker “with a little depth. Some profiles could fit”, Kessler did not want to sketch a precise player type. In any case, there is currently a much greater need for action in two other positions.
In the left and right-back position, the Bundesliga club is currently only occupied after the departures of Max Finkgräfe (RB Leipzig) and Rasmus Carstensen (Aarhus GF). On the left side, Learst Pacarada is currently the only defender, on the right only Jusuf Gazibegovic is available. “This is our next big task to ensure reinforcements in the defense. We are in exchange and are working on improving the squad there,” confirmed Kessler.
However, the sports director could not yet announce when exactly the reinforcements come to the team. “The fastest shot is not always the best. But I am confident that we can report something. We have one or the other idea there,” said Kessler.
In the meantime, there are no new stand for the players who are no longer to play a role at FC in the coming season and ideally leave the club. Professional professionals like Sargis Adamyan or Steffen Tigges are still training with the team of coach Lukas Kwasniok.
Only Jaka Cuber Potocnik is likely to leave the club in the next few days and join red and white food for a year. “We are eating with red-white food and I am confident that we will be able to do this this week,” Kessler announced. According to “Sky”, however, there are still problems at the medical check on Wednesday, which is why further examinations were scheduled. A confirmation of the rental deal should therefore take a little bit.