By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Kicker Report: Hoffenheim inclined to elevate Asllani and offload Bruun Larsen

Germany's preeminent footballing publication reports that TSG 1899 Hoffenheim may be prepared to promote a promote a promising young talent into a squad regular and possibly offload Danish attacker Jacob Bruun Larsen in the coming winter transfer window.
Injuries to natural forwards Munus Dabbur and Ihlas Bebou have led TSG 1899 Hoffenheim trainer André Breitenreiter twice deploying winger Jacob Bruun Larsen on the top attacking axis this season. The 24-year-old did manage to score a goal in a matchday 12 meeting with 1. FC Köln, but was largely ineffective the following week against RB Leipzig. 

Breitenreiter then proceeded to pull the plug on the experiment for the remaining two Bundesliga rounds. According to Michael Pfeifer of German footballing magazine Kicker, the coaching team at the Sinsheim based club are actually preparing to give 20-year-old German Kosovar prospect Fisnak Asllani a shot at a starting spot. This would push the already expendable Dane off the roster. 

Asllani appeared as a substitute in Hoffenheim's final three Bundesliga fixtures before the World Cup break. On international duty with the German U20s, the former Union Berlin academy man recently bagged a brace in a 2-1 victory over Norway. Breitenreiter, in affirming his support for "young developing players", recently hinted that Asllani could start alongside Georginio Rutter, who is only four months older.

Apart from the back-to-back starts up front in rounds 12 and 13, Bruun Larsen only featured in Breitenreiter's starting XI once this season. The Kraichgauer have loaned him out for the second half of the season before, shipping him to RSC Anderlecht in January of 2021.

After three seasons on inconsistent use with the TSG, the Dane's estimated market value as plummeted from a peak of €12 million to €4 million in the latest transfermarkt listings. Bruun Larsen's current contract with the Baden-based club runs through 2024.

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