TSV 1860 Munich: Borussia Mönchengladbach wants Leandro Morgalla

The lions are clammy, so TSV 1860 will focus on talent next season. Leandro Morgalla could then play in the 1st Bundesliga.

Munich – The lions are certain of at least one success this season: they will once again pocket the biggest chunk of the DFB’s €2.95 million youth development fund. That this is no coincidence is proven by a sentence from NLZ boss Manfred Paula (58), recently expressed in our interview: “It is our goal that we can hand over one, two or three players to our colleagues over there every year.”

By “over there” I mean: the professional coaching staff around Maurizio Jacobacci (60), who continues in terms of youth development what predecessor Michael Köllner (53) had pushed with the early takeover of NLZ talents like Leandro Morgalla.

Most minutes played by German talents in the 3rd division: TSV 1860 Munich is in the lead

As a reminder: Since 2018, the development of youngsters in the 3rd division has been financially rewarded. A year ago, a whopping 448,300 euros went into the account of the Löwen-NLZ, whose top talents – German and under 21 – recorded the most minutes of play in the league.

This year, for the fourth time in five years, 1860 is in the lead – Morgalla (2355 minutes) and Marius Wörl (1072) contributed to this. Mansour Ouro-Tagba’s third-division debut (also a 2004er) is no longer included in the rating, as it took place after matchday 33. But the direction is right, as NLZ boss Paula said with justifiable pride: “This is a rate that is still unparalleled in Germany.”

TSV 1860 Munich: Acute financial difficulties are forcing Löwen to adopt Art Nouveau in the coming season

So far, so gratifying. In times of tight budgets, it is an obvious idea for the lions to strengthen their core competence – the nationwide production of young, hungry footballers; the acute financial crisis is forcing the club to rejuvenate. As reported, the professional budget of the quarreling club falls by almost two million euros (from 6.3 to 4.5 million).

As of now, the best option is to rely on talents like Ouro-Tagba to compensate for the numerous departures. If another miracle doesn’t happen, both economically and in the internal relationship of the shareholders, the face of the lions will be even younger in the new season. The New Giesinger Wave – it will wash up a few more talents.

TSV 1860 Munich: Borussia Mönchengladbach shows interest in Leandro Morgalla

It is certainly no coincidence that a US boy named Mason Judge (21) was allowed to train with the pros last week alongside storm talent Ouro-Tagba. This is how you motivate Cubs to extend their contracts. Judge, who made 26 appearances in the Bayernliga team (four goals), can play any position in the back four. A versatile defender with whom the lions could react to any departures of Morgalla (Gladbach seems to be serious) or Yannick Deichmann (hesitating to extend his contract).

The Florida-born Judge came to Germany at the age of 16, where he first played for Eintracht Frankfurt youth teams. 20 caps for the US U15s and U17s show he has potential. And according to information from our newspaper, another duo from the U21s can also show up at Jacobacci in a timely manner.

TSV 1860 Munich: Head of sports Gorenzel believes Michael Glück has developed similarly to Morgalla

And otherwise? Are the lions busy re-collecting the talents they have parked internally and externally. In the Austrian Michael Glück (19), last loaned to Hessen Kassel (eleven appearances, two goals), sports director Günther Gorenzel sees similar potential as in Morgalla.

Lorenz Knöferl (19) is also on the move, but things are not going quite so well for him at Carl-Zeiss-Jena (ten games, one goal). Both should be included in the professional squad for the new season – as well as super dribbler Devin Sür (18) and the Swiss six Nathan Wicht (19), who recently gained match practice in the club’s junior teams.

As said NLZ boss Paula? The next Morgallas and Wörls are already “in the pipeline”. Some jewels are now being taken out – and are to be cut by Jacobacci. (ULI KELLNER)