Kicker Report: St. Pauli near permanent signing of Scottish attacker
After four successive loan-outs, it appears as if 22-year-old Scottish attacker Scott Banks will find a permanent home in the German top footballing division. The Crystal Palace man was sent to St. Pauli ahead of last season following loan stints at Alloa, Dunfermline, and Bradford City. Unfortunately, an early season ACL tear left him sidelined from the fifth match-day onwards. Banks did return for St. Pauli's final 2. Bundesliga fixture, registering an assist in the 2-1 win over SV Wehen Wiesbaden.
German footballing journalist Sebastian Wolff of Kicker Magazine reports that the Kiezkicker have opted to sign Banks permanently. Wolff provides no information on a transfer fee, but does note that the Hanseatic city state club will potentially pocket some extra cash on the sale of Germany U17 World Champion Eric da Silva Moreira. The homegrown German Brazilian - Wolff reports - is on the verge of moving to Nottingham Forest for a reported €1.5 million.
As pertains to reports that St. Pauli are about to install Union SG trainer Alexander Blessin as their new head-coach, Wolff reports that ongoing negotiations should see Blessin make the move over to his home country for a transfer fee of around €1 million. St. Pauli are searching for a new gaffer following the departure of Fabian Hürzeler to Brighton & Hove Albion.