Bundesliga
Vienna Austria started the new year looking for a striker. At the start of the spring on Wednesday, coach Stephan Helm had everyone on board except for the long-term injured. The attacking formation in the fifth team in the Admiral Bundesliga can be improved, which is why the name Maximilian Entrup has appeared in the rumor mill.
In the offensive department, Austria is thinly positioned after the long-term injuries to Manprit Sarkaria and Noah Botic. Captain Manfred Fischer also helped out at the front in the fall.
Media reported that Austria was interested in Maximilian Entrup, who failed to score in his few appearances at LASK in the fall. The former Austria young player is in the training camp in Turkey with the Linz team. There, sports director Dino Buric told the “Oberösterreichische Nachrichten”: “As of now there is no request.” Given Austria’s difficult financial situation, only a loan deal for the 28-year-old seems realistic.
Michael Wagner is asked for the first time. The neo-sports director of the “Veilchen” was already at work when it came to the departures. The new sporting boss in the background is still a long time coming at Austria. We looked in vain for a new face during the first session on artificial turf in the in-house academy. Helm was confident. “We used the time to work through things. We started with a lot of enthusiasm,” said the coach after the first session of the new year. It is obvious that an attacker is coming.
Full-back Luca Pazourek went to Hartberg on loan, while defensive talent Ifeanyi Ndukwe’s multi-million dollar move to Liverpool is about to be completed. Austria is said to have received three million euros for the U17 runner-up and negotiated a share in the sale. In the spring, the 18-year-old will be seen in the purple jersey before he switches to red. On Wednesday Ndukwe was with the professionals. Also seen was Johannes Handl, whose comeback after a viral illness will not be rushed.
Sports director still in limbo
Austria isn’t just looking for a striker. A new sports director is also expected to come after Jürgen Werner’s departure at the end of August. The German Tomas Zorn (39) was suggested as a candidate by the investor group at the beginning of December. The personnel must be approved by the supervisory board. The representatives of the club around President Kurt Gollowitzer can reject anger. A veto is only possible once, which opens the door to speculation.
It is an open secret that Werner, who is part of the investors, and the club leadership with Gollowitzer and CFO Harald Zagiczek are not on good terms with each other. Two dates have now passed. After a meeting originally scheduled for Dec. 30 was canceled, the board was scheduled to meet on Monday. However, scheduling problems among members caused another postponement. It is unclear when the meeting will take place.
