FC St. Pauli continues to work diligently on the squad for the rest of the Bundesliga season. As is well known, sports director Andreas Bornemann has already signed two newcomers, and now the first departure is also certain: Erik Ahlstrand.
At the beginning of the week, Heracles Almelo’s interest in Ahlstrand had already been reported in Swedish and Dutch media. Some people had already said that the deal with St. Pauli was almost done, but at that point there had only been statements and no negotiations.
This is now significantly different. According to MOPO information, St. Pauli and the Eredivisie club, where another ex-Kiezkicker, Jannes Wieckhoff, is already under contract, agreed on a loan deal with a purchase option on Wednesday evening. Ahlstrand is apparently already in the Netherlands and is completing the usual medical check there.
St. Pauli lends Erik Ahlstrand to Almelo
Go to Heracles Almelo: St. Paulis Erik Ahlstrand WITTERS
The solution is the best for both St. Pauli and the 24-year-old. In Hamburg, Ahlstrand has never progressed beyond the status of a supplementary player in two years; he has made six substitutions with a total playing time of 41 minutes, all from last season.
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The fact that he has potential was only ever evident in test matches. Last season, for example, at Hertha BSC, most recently in the 0-0 draw against Werder Bremen a few days ago. The fact that he was an enormously important player for the U23s in the regional league was not equal to the demands he placed on himself. It remains to be hoped that Erik Ahlstrand will get started in the Netherlands and help the second-to-last team in the table stay in the league.
