Augsburg updates: Breithaupt and Pfeiffer set to join FCA, Gikiewicz to depart
Germany's preeminent footballing publication reports that FC Augsburg have won the race for Karlsruher SC midfield talent Tim Breithaupt. There are also, albeit conflicting, reports that another sought-after 2. Bundesliga commodity - Patric Pfeifer of SV Darmstadt 98 - has agreed to join the Fuggerstädter.
In another piece of Augsburg-related transfer news, the loss of first-choice keeper Rafal Gikiewicz for the year (most sources report) means that the 35-year-old net-minder's expiring contract cannot be renewed via an automatic extension clause. The Polish backstop will thus be departing the club at the end of the season.
In another piece of Augsburg-related transfer news, the loss of first-choice keeper Rafal Gikiewicz for the year (most sources report) means that the 35-year-old net-minder's expiring contract cannot be renewed via an automatic extension clause. The Polish backstop will thus be departing the club at the end of the season.
Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany reports that Augsburg have also won the race for another hotly traded 2. Bundesliga commodity. SV Darmstadt 98 defender Patric Pfeiffer has, according to Plettenberg, reached an agreement to join the Fuggerstädter on a free transfer after his contract expires at the end of the season.
Germany's main sporting tabloid, "Sport Bild", nevertheless reports that Pfeiffer is still considering a move to FSV Mainz 05. The 23-year-old had been linked with the Rheinhessen in the past. Given that Augsburg themselves are not technically safe from relegation just yet, the Hamburg native may wish to opt for a club with better prospects.
One thing concerning Augsburg that does appear to be certain concerns the future of keeper Rafal Gikiewicz. The Polish shot-stopper sits on an expiring contract that (it has been widely corroborated) could only be extended if he reached 25 league appearances this year. The 35-year-old has been unavailable to the club since the beginning of April with a shoulder injury.
At a Friday presser, FCA head-coach Enrico Maaßen noted that Gikiewicz would remain out for the duration of the season. The veteran, having made only 23 appearances this year, thus cannot hope to reach the automatic extension trigger in his current contract. Gikiewicz has been the team's primary goalkeeper for the last three seasons after he joined Augsburg from 1. FC Union Berlin in the summer of 2020.