Sport Bild Report: Union await Kaufmann's decision on loan-out
Germany's main sporting tabloid furnished updates on the loan prospects of two 1. FC Union Berlin strikers yesterday.
Kevin Volland's arrival in Köpenick last week further diminished the playing prospects of two young strikers acquired by German Champions' League representatives 1. FC Union Berlin over the summer. Twenty-two-year-olds Mikkel Kaufmann and Benedict Hollerbach both didn't feature in FCU head-coach Urs Fischer's matchday squad in the round one victory over Mainz on Sunday.
It stands to reason that managing director Oliver Ruhnert and the Union administrative team will wish to park both prospects in locations where they can accrue more playing prospects. Kaufmann spent the last seasons playing in the 2. Bundesliga on loan from his parent club of FC Copenhagen with Hamburger SV and Karlsruher SC. Hollerbach helped his 3. Liga side SV Wehen Wiesbaden achieve promotion last year.
Both players have been linked with loan outs to the second division. Hannover 96, according to various sources, remain interested in acquiring either one of them. In a report published yesterday, Germany's "Sport Bild" tabloid claims that FC St. Pauli and Fortuna Düsseldorf have also lodged interest in Kaufmann. The tabloid goes on to assert that Union are waiting on Kaufmann's decision before deciding which player to loan out.
Bild's claim that Union are committed to loaning out one of the players seems perfectly reasonable. One also assumes that the Köpenickers will prefer 2. Bundesliga destinations for their prospects. The tabloid nevertheless does list newly promoted top-tier side 1. FC Heidenheim as one of the clubs reportedly interested in taking on Kaufmann. The Dane himself may not be interested in such a move as Heidenheim run a single-striker-set.