Report: Leipzig prepare to ship out Germany U21 prospects Martel and Jäkel
Kicker Magazine journalist Oliver Hartmann reports that RB Leipzig have found new destinations for two players from their developmental program.
One week after cashing in on Leipzig "Career Center" product Tom Krauß, RB Leipzig are preparing to ship out two more players associated with their novel developmental program. Defensive all-rounder Eric Martel is headed to Köln on a straight transfer while Frederick Jäkel will be loaned out to Arminia Bielefeld.
The 20-year-old Martel--recently capped at the Germany U21 youth level--spent last season on loan at FK Austria Wien. He made 29 appearances for the Austrian Bundesliga side, netting two goals in the process. Conference-league bound 1. Köln apparently liked what they saw and considered Martel an excellent candidate for their ongoing defensive upgrades.
Oliver Hartmann of Germany's preeminent footballing publication, Kicker Magazine, reports that Köln have agreed to purchase Martel for a transfer fee of between €1 and €1.5 million. According to Hartmann, the decision makers at Leipzig deemed an outright sale the most sensible course of action as Martel enters the final year of his contract.
Defender Jäkel--another recent call-up for Antonio di Salvo's DFB Juniors--also returns from a recent loan-out. The 21-year-old central defender spent two seasons at K.V. Oostende in the Belgian Pro League. The former Career Center colleague of Krauß and Martel scored thrice in 41 appearances whilst assembling practice in West Flanders.
Unlike the case with Martel, the RB personnel team isn't quite ready to give up on Jäkel just yet. A loan deal with the recently relegated DSC Arminia Bielefeld is currently being negotiated. At present, it is not known whether the Saxons will build in an automatic purchase clause as they did with Krauß.
Hartmann does write that such an arrangement is likely. Leipzig could net as much as €5 million for Krauß when loan-fees, the purchase trigger, and bonuses are all taken into account. RB actively seek to avoid losing developmental players from the "Career Center" for nothing.
The loss of striker Ermedin Demirovic on a free transfer in 2017 reportedly alerted the front office to the dangers of not proactively protecting the wealth inherent in prospects from the club's youth academy program. Some sort financial incentive is thus likely in the Jäkel deal.