Up to two strikers should come
©IMAGO
In its search for a new striker, Hamburger SV is apparently also looking to England. As the “Kicker” reports, Damion Downs from Championship club FC Southampton is a candidate for the Bundesliga promoted team. The 21-year-old only moved to the English second division club from 1. FC Köln for 8 million euros in the summer, but has only played 395 minutes over 14 games since then. He has not yet managed to score a goal for his new employer.
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HSV has reportedly already asked the Saints about Downs, who signed a contract in Southampton until 2029. It is said that a permanent transfer would be hard to imagine given the transfer fee recently paid, so it is more likely to be a loan. With a market value of 7 million euros, Downs would be the most valuable center forward in the HSV squad.
Due to the tense personnel situation, the Rothosen are looking for reinforcements for the storm. Captain Yussuf Poulsen will be out for a longer period of time in the new year, possibly until March, due to an ankle injury, but he has only played nine games anyway because he is repeatedly injured. Robert Glatzel is due to return at the beginning of 2026 after a torn muscle fiber, but was not previously set. The only fit central attacker left is Ransford Königsdörffer, but he is always unfortunate and has two goals.
“If it’s a sensation of quality, one would be enough. If we have to split it up a bit, it will be two,” said sports director Stefan Kuntz about the 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. A total of 30 candidates should be on a shadow list. The ideal idea is a center forward with speed, but as a compromise two attackers could also come in so that both profiles are covered. Financially this is not a problem. The former Bundesliga dinosaur has so far spent 9.8 million euros on new players in 2025/26, in return 7.17 million euros were earned from player sales. Jonas Meffert, who has been linked with a return to Holstein Kiel, could also leave the club in the winter. According to the “Hamburger Abendblatt”, Silvan Hefti, Noah Katterbach, Emir Sahiti and possibly also Immanuel Pherai are also considered candidates for departure.
HSV: No replacement for Dompé planned
According to the report, no replacement is planned for Jean-Luc Dompé’s position for the time being. The winger has had to take a break this season due to Achilles tendon problems. Because of this, he recently missed two games in a row, in which he was represented by home-grown Fábio Baldé. At the start of training after the Christmas break on January 2nd, Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit is also expected to return after a torn muscle fiber as another alternative.
