Sport Bild Report: Union seek to offload three expendables
Germany's main sporting tabloid identifies three players on 1. FC Union Berlin's 33-man roster that the Köpenick-based club are actively seeking to offload before the current transfer window closes.
A 33-man roster is generally considered to be too large for any Bundesliga club, even those tasked with the additional burden of representing the country in European tournament fixtures. Current top tier German sides straddling the line by carrying between 32 and 34 players on the payroll include Hertha BSC, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, VfL Wolfsburg, FC Augsburg, and 1. FC Union Berlin.
Germany's Sport Bild, citing its own internal sources, reports that the three Union players set for a departure are defender Rick Von Drongelen and midfielders Levin Öztunali and Kevin Möhwald. The desire to move van Drongelen doesn't exactly constitute new news. Die Eisernen have actively been trying to move the Dutch center halve for quite some time.
After attempts to secure an outright transfer during last January's window failed, Oliver Ruhnert and the FCU administrative team were able to organize a short-term loan for the 22-year-old. Interest in van Drongelen this summer hasn't really materialized, but German footballing magazine Kicker recently reported that VfL Bochum might be interested in bringing the defender on after the recently signed Jannes Horn incurred a potential long-term-injury.
The tabloid's report that Union are seeking to move Möhwald and Öztunali is somewhat interesting in that both journeymen (signed last year from SV Werder Bremen and FSV Mainz 05 respectively) were considered the direct back-ups to midfield linchpin Rani Khedira. The exceptional strong recent play of Khedira - combined with the recent signings of Morten Thorsby and Paul Seguin - have apparently rendered both players exepdenable.
The 29-year-old Möhwald could garner interest from several first and second division teams, including his former club Bremen. The 26-year-old Öztunali - actually the grandson of recently deceased German football great Uwe Seeler - might generate some interest from some of his old stomping grounds as well. Öztunali has played for Bremen and Leverkusen in addition to Mainz. Both midfielders maintain an estimated market worth of €1.5 million in the latest transfermarkt listings.