1. FC Köln: Is the club sold out? – The best go! – 1. FC COLOGNE

The new Cologne way is very risky – but from the point of view of the bosses there is no alternative. Sports director Christian Keller (43) speaks openly of the fact that the Europa League participant is a “reorganization case”. The club is in a vicious circle. No player is not for sale because a transfer surplus of at least eight million euros has to be achieved. At the same time, the salary budget is to be reduced from 54 to around 48 million euros. That’s why there are no ready-made top players for the additions, even if they are free transfers. At the same time, the team should become better and more stable in order to be able to withstand the triple load.

Whether that works, nobody knows. Not even at Geißbockheim. The only answer to all sporting questions is: Steffen Baumgart (50). The trainer has to uncover potential that others don’t see. Like last season, he has to weld together a team that surpasses itself.

His new players come from the “creative transfers” category: cheap with a lot of hope for rapid development. Just like Denis Huseinbasic (20), whom the FC from Kickers Offenbach for 50,000 euros. “We trust him to jump from fourth to fourth first League ok,” says Manager Keller. Behind it is: The talent has to deliver immediately in defensive midfield. There, Cologne lost its clock Salih Özcan (24), who paid for the fixed transfer fee of 5.5 million euros Dortmund changes.

FC expects a large income from the sale of Ellyes Skhiri (27), also one of the pillars of the team. Also defensive midfielder. At least seven to eight million euros should flow into the cash register. The big danger: Cologne sells itself badly!

After two years of the corona pandemic and a loss of sales of 85 million euros, the entire club management believes there is no other way out. Sell, save – somehow survive.

The example of Joel Pohjanpalo (27) shows how tightly FC buckles its belt. There is agreement that another prolific striker should come. Someone who can play alongside Anthony Modeste (34), but also for the Frenchman. Like last summer, Pohjanpalo was a thought. The Finn from Bayer Leverkusen was loaned to the Turkish first division club Rizespor last season. He scored 16 goals for the relegated team. Because his contract with the neighbor expires in 2023, only a purchase is an option. The transfer fee should be around 2.5 million euros. That ended the topic again. Too much for Cologne.

The traditional club will not sign any players, the bosses openly say so, and the fans will immediately start raving about them. There will be players who are only known to experts so far. Like Huseinbasic or Linton Maina (22). The winger was the first signing for next season. He comes on a free transfer from second division side Hannover.

Another reason for the need to save: FC cannot get rid of its top earners without prospects. There are no interested parties for Timo Horn (29), who has only been a reserve goalkeeper since January, and Sebastian Andersson (30), who is the number 3 striker at best. Horn also collects three million euros a year on the bank, Andersson around 2.4.