Sport Bild Report: Gladbach target Kamada and Hartel for midfield restock
Germany's main sporting tabloid reports that, among other midfield reinforcement candidates the club is considering this summer, Borussia Mönchengladbach may try to bring Daichi Kamada back to German football.
The top flight side is also reportedly targeted FC St. Pauli attacking midfielder Marcel Hartel; a native of their arch-rivals Köln. Hartel currently tops the 2. Bundesliga scorer-points charts.
In an article published today, Germany's "Sport Bild" tabloid newspaper lists former Eintracht Frankfurt star Daichi Kamada as one of the potential candidates Borussia Mönchengladbach will aim to acquire this summer. The Westphalian club are expected to sell French midfielder Manu Koné for a transfer fee of some €25 to €30 million. German firm Reuter - an online bathroom wholesaler - have also agreed to a sponsorship deal that will pump some €11 million into the BMG coffers. Gladbach's top priority over the summer will be procuring midfield reinforcements.
The top flight side is also reportedly targeted FC St. Pauli attacking midfielder Marcel Hartel; a native of their arch-rivals Köln. Hartel currently tops the 2. Bundesliga scorer-points charts.
Sport Bild reports that Roland Virkus and the club administrative team are currently focusing on two players that will up the roster's overall payroll significantly, but may still be acquired on free transfers. Kamada and FC St. Pauli midfielder Marcel Hartel both sit on expiring contracts with their current sides. Hartel is the leading goalscorer for the first-placed 2. Bundesliga side, having scored 12 goals and chipped in 10 assists in the current campaign. Kamada has failed to flourish since moving to Lazio Roma on a free this past summer.
Kamada might be persuaded to return to German football, where he enjoyed immense personal success. The 27-year-old Japanese international netted 40 goals across all competitions over the course of four seasons spent playing with the SGE. He's managed just one goal and one assist in 25 appearances across all competitions for his current Serie A side. The former German Eagle has seen his estimated market worth decline to €20 million amid less playing time for both club and country.
Hartel would certainly constitute a cheaper option. The native of Gladbach's arch-rivals Köln maintains an estimated market worth of just €3 million. The 28-year-old does bring with him the experience of 30 top flight German football deployments whilst playing for Köln and DSC Arminia Bielefeld. Hartel joined the Kiezkicker from Bielefeld for low six-figure transfer fee at the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign. He gradually evolved into more of a scoring threat during the last three seasons.