Köln contract leaks: Selke and Uth automatically released in event of relegation
Sky Germany's Patrick Berger reports that 1. FC Köln professionals Davie Selke and Mark Uth do not have contracts valid for the 2. Bundesliga.
As is common whenever German top-tier sides face relegation, leaks are beginning to emerge regarding the applicability of certain player contracts for the lower division. Sky Germany's Patrick Berger reports that Davie Selke and Mark Uth - two of the roster's more valuable players will be automatically released from the club in the event of relegation.
The 32-year-old Uth, possibly pondering retirement after multiple injuries have caused him to miss most of the past two seasons, remains an important leadership figure for his hometown club. Selke, facing some injury issues of his own, is the team's current leading scorer with five league tallies. Selke scored Köln's lone goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Heidenheim.
Köln sporting director Christian Keller is on record as saying that two professionals on the current roster do not possess working papers valid for the second division. Berger's report claims that Selke and Uth are the two Keller was referring to. Keller has also stated that three Köln professionals who have automatic exit clauses that may be activated in the event of relegation.
This trio remains unnamed.
Germany's cathedral city side find themselves hamstrung by a transfer ban that precludes them from buying players over the next two years. The club can still purchase players currently serving at the club on loan, such as attacker Luca Waldschmidt (Wolfsburg) and Rasmus Carstensen (KRC Genk), but it remains unclear as to whether these players will wish to play in the 2. Bundesliga.
Keller and his administrative team, along with the coaching staff, have little choice but to give young prospects as much playing time as possible and hope that talents with other prospects can be convinced to remain with the club. Köln's front office prioritized this early last month and the new coaching regime has followed suit.
Unfortunately, early indications are that this tactic too isn't working. Despite earning his first Bundesliga minutes this weekend, attacker Justin Diehl (considered to be the best of the available talents from the youth reserves) appears headed for a different Bundesliga side.