Köln updates: Andersson may still return this year, Hansson a possible offseason target
There is some slight good news on the horizon for relegation-threatened Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln. Swedish striker Sebastian Andersson is once again training with the ball.
In other Köln news, he cathedral city club are also - according to Stephan van Nocks of Germany's Kicker Magazine - eyeing up another Swedish attacker as an offensive reinforcement for next year.
Ever since the striker controversially opted for an elective knee surgery this past autumn, it has been strongly assumed that Sebastian Andersson would no longer kick for his current Bundesliga team. Constant injury issues have rendered the 31-year-old a complete flop with 1. FC Köln since he joined from 1. FC Union Berlin in the autumn of 2020.
In other Köln news, he cathedral city club are also - according to Stephan van Nocks of Germany's Kicker Magazine - eyeing up another Swedish attacker as an offensive reinforcement for next year.
It may nevertheless still be the case that Andersson will be available to assist goal-starved Köln out in their fight against relegation before the season is out. The nine-times-capped Blaugult international is once again training on the ball and hopes to rejoin team training within a couple of weeks. This is conveyed by an article appearing in Germany's main sporting tabloid.
Germany's "Sport Bild" quotes Andersson as saying that he does hope to return to the pitch before the current campaign concludes. The veteran sits on an expiring contract and, as such, will wish to recommend himself to another club as a free agent at the very least. The tabloid piece notes that Andersson has made a solid impression, as confirmed by his coach.
Geißböcke Trainer Steffen Baumgart claims that last season's scorer of three league tallies is "taking on the hurdles". The Effzeh gaffer will require all the help he can get in order to build a squad with some attacking presence up front. Assuming that Köln can avoid the drop, rebuilding the attack will constitute their biggest offseason priority.
Stephan van Nocks of German footballing magazine Kicker reports that Köln, along with the likes of Frankfurt, Udinese, Olympique Lyon, and Feyenoord Rotterdam, are casting their eyes upon 24-year-old Swedish winger Emil Hansson. The Heracles Almelo forward has scored 15 goals and registered 15 assists in the Dutch second division this year.
Hansson has some experience in German football, serving on loan at Hannover 96 in the 2019/20 campaign. The Swedish youth international made 14 appearances with the Lower Saxon Reds that year. With a current estimated market value of €700,000, Hansson could count as a very affordable promising option for many clubs this summer.
Personal-Update beim #effzeh zum Start in die Derby-Woche:
— 1. FC Köln (@fckoeln) March 27, 2023
👉 Davie Selke nimmt das Team-Training wieder auf.
👉 Sebastian Andersson absolviert das Aufwärm-Programm mit.
👉 Jan Thielmann und Kristian Pedersen trainieren teilintegriert mit. pic.twitter.com/xROzEtckQW