Reports: Werder target Benes and Stark
Germany's main sporting tabloid reports that SV Werder Bremen have their eyes on two current top flight players as they prepare to augment their roster for the footballing "Oberhaus".
| Niklas Stark. | Photo: Steindy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Germany's main sporting tabloid reports on two such targets. According to Sport Bild, Werder look to ply underutilized Slovakian midfielder Laszo Benes away from Borussia Mönchengladbach. The foals have already loaned the 24-year-old out twice (to Augsburg and Holstein Kiel) in the last three years. After only 13 league appearances this season, Benes continues to meet the very definition of expendable.
Benes--whose market value has tumbled down from a peak of €10 million three years ago to €3.5 million today--would be an excellent budget fit for the Hanseaten as they seek to upgrade their midfield. So too could former Hertha BSC captain Niklas Stark. The 27-year-old central defender, who can also play as a six, remains available on a free after the Berliners declined to renew his expiring contract.
Sport Bild reports that talks regarding both players are ongoing. In the case of Stark, negotiations are said to be far along. Werder desperately seek an alternative to Ömer Toprak in defense. The 32-year-old's contract expires at the end of next month. Given Töprak's history with injury problems, Baumann and the front office team are thought to be less than enthusiast about renewing.
