Written 18 April 2013
It has been a mixed bag for SC Freiburg. A convincing 3-1 triumph over northern club Hannover 96 at the Mage Solar Stadion was overshadowed by two defeats at the hands of Stuttgart in one week. Two trips to the Merecedes-Benz Arena, first in the German cup followed by a league match, left Freiburg empty-handed and tossed out of the DFB-Pokal. After a pitiful run of poor results that, at their lowest point, saw Freiburg concede ten goals in two games, the club has struggled to make a proper rebound. Regardless, Freiburg remain on par for a Europa League qualification place.
But can a team that is about to be ransacked of its key players make it through a season in Europe? Early transfer talks surrounding the club involve poachers from all directions, picking off bits of the squad like vultures. Some of the latest speculation revolves around Daniel Caligiuri and his link to VfL Wolfsburg. According to several German football news outlets including Spox, only Caligiuri’s signature is missing from the deal that would bring the 26 year-old to Die Wölfe. Caligiuri has net eight goals and assisted two in all competitions. The midfielder’s affinity for defensive work makes him a valuable asset to a Wolfsburg side guilty of leaking unnecessary goals this season. As Whoscored.com’s number one ranked player for Freiburg, losing Caligiuri would be a considerable blow.
Another sought after midfielder is Johannes Flum. Eintracht Frankfurt are currently wooing Flum in hopes of shoring up their defensive midfield as Sebastian Rode is attracting suitors from abroad. While in the prime stages of his career, the 25 year-old German could very well make his exit from Freiburg in the summer in search of more guaranteed game time.
Should Flum take his leave to Frankfurt, he will be joined by Jan Rosenthal, who is already bound for the Hesse club. Eintracht Frankfurt are glad to have picked up the 26 year-old attacking midfielder with trainer Armin Veh asserting to Sky Sports, “He is a versatile player.”
Moreover, Max Kruse has already finalised his departure from the Breisgau-Brasilianer and is bound for Borussia Mönchengladbach on a contract beginning in the summer. Since arriving in Freiburg last summer from FC St. Pauli, Kruse has more than proven his ability as an attacking midfielder and forward, slotting 11 goals and assisting nine in all competitions while his transfer market value has jumped in response. Mönchengladbach were certainly not the first club to set their sights on Kruse and his insatiable shooting boots, but they were the quickest to lock him down. With Kruse on a four-year deal, the Foals are hoping to extract the best years and the best form out of the 25 year-old.
The scouts have also been taking a serious look at midfielders Julian Schuster and Jonathan Schmid, goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, and centreback Fallou Diagne.
So, why are Freiburg giving consideration to offers that would see off much of the team that they have worked so hard to build? The answer is neither rare nor surprising—finances. The club’s hand has been forced to entertain deals for their major players in order to straighten out their disproportionate transfer balance. Although sales of players are a necessary evil in order to keep the club from heading into more serious financial issues, it created what was a tense affiliation between manager Christian Streich and former sporting director Dirk Dufner. Dufner has only just recently resigned from the club “with immediate effect” on April 22nd. Badische Zeitung quoted the coach having this to say on the state of their relationship before Dufner’s departure: “I do my job, he does his job.” And that, really, says it all.
Though it isn’t a particularly cozy situation, Freiburg will look to their youth. One scout for the club, Klemens Hartenbach, said to Bundesliga.com, “The best market for us is our own youth system.” The club is likely to begin heavily grooming a few youngsters for the big leagues in the summer, bringing the opportunity to showcase the productivity and efficiency of their academy next season.
thefootylady 