Hamburger SV winter transfer plans, Digi Mart USA News: Will Hamburger SV become active in the transfer market? The team’s growing shortage of players could have consequences.
Here is where the club sees a need.
The loss of personnel has been severe recently. Up to five professionals will still be missing for Friday’s match against Mönchengladbach, and the injury wave is one of the reasons for the club’s recent slump, which has included three competitive defeats in a row.
Even if the injury list is expected to shrink soon, the question remains: must HSV reinforce in the winter?
Sporting director Claus Costa is aware of the debate surrounding the club. The central defense and the central defensive midfield have recently been in acute need.
“We are currently in the position where we are preparing everything,” Costa said earlier this week regarding possible winter transfers. He said the club will use the seven weeks until Christmas to discuss options and prepare solutions.
He added, however, that “it is too early to say that we will definitely react in any position.”
Costa and scouting chief Sebastian Dirscherl have already compiled lists of names that could come in as short-term reinforcements. The process began after captain Nicolai Remberg tore his cruciate ligament almost four weeks ago.
Whether HSV must act will depend closely on results up to the winter break. The sporting leadership also hopes for a quick easing of the personnel situation.
Still, the question is whether the squad is truly prepared for every eventuality, or whether an optimization in January is needed regardless.
Jan Schultz of the HSV tactics blog “Rautenball” says he would act in at least one area. “What HSV needs after Remberg’s absence is another player whose strength is stopping opponents’ attacks,” Schultz said.
“Before the season, the club brought in Kofi Amoako for exactly that reason, but he hardly gets a chance to play.” The 21-year-old, who joined HSV from Dresden for almost two million euros, has so far not progressed beyond brief appearances despite the severe shortage of players. “There will be reasons for that,” Schultz said.
“If the club is able to add in this position, I would do it as an HSV decision-maker.”
The shortage in central defense is indeed especially acute. Besides Remberg, for whom the season is likely over, deputy Bilal Nadir is also missing at least until the start of the new year.
Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nicolás Capaldo have also dropped out of this area at times.
The situation in defense has been similar recently. The return of Sebastiaan Bornauw and Capaldo is expected to ease the situation.
Still, questions remain: was it the right decision by the leadership to forgo signing another defender in the summer, and then in early September to loan out Daniel Elfadli to Champions League participant Linz?
Next week could resolve some of these question marks. After a four-year doping ban, HSV is eagerly awaiting the comeback of Mario Vuskovic.
In the test match against Hajduk Split on November 15, for which HSV has sold more than 45,000 tickets, the Croatian will face his first real test. One week later he could be in the Bundesliga squad again for the match in Bremen for the first time.
If Vuskovic confirms his training impressions, he could be part of the solution. “It will be very exciting to see whether he can really be a reinforcement,” Schultz said.
“Before the season, I would have thought it would be very difficult to plan seriously with him. But from everything I hear, there should be a real possibility that Mario will at least hold his own well.”
Will HSV make two signings in the winter? Perhaps just one, or none at all?
Costa is keeping all scenarios in view and says: “The coaches are very experienced at finding good solutions.” Schultz also believes the club can reach its season target even without reinforcements: “If the missing players are largely healthy again, there are no major problem areas in the squad. Then this group should be able to keep the club in the league.”
To calm the situation, three points against Gladbach would help. Otherwise, the debate over reinforcements will continue to gather momentum.
