Union Berlin acquire Taiwo Awoniyi on loan, KSC's Philipp Hofmann is next target.
Liverpool prospect Taiwo Awoniyi mostly spent the last Bundesliga campaign riding the bench. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder started only six fixtures for FSV Mainz 05 in the 2019/20 season. Union Berlin may have grander plans for the Nigerian on what will be his 7th loan spell.
Labelling Taiwo Awoniyi a “prospect” may not constitute the best choice of words at this point. The Nigerian international approaches his mid-20s. He has been loaned out by his parent club a scarcely believable six times already.
The Köpenickers are evidently ready to give it another go. Desperately needing some attacking assistance after selling top-scorer Seabstian Andersson to Köln earlier in the week, Eisern Union concluded a deal with the EPL Champions Liverpool to bring the attacker back to the Bundesliga.
Awoniyi’s most successful loan stints came at two separate spells for Royal Excel Mouscron in the Belgian division. He scored a combined 20 goals in 45 appearances for ‘Les Hurlus’. Awoniyi has also played for KAA Gent, NEC Nijmegen, and FSV Frankfurt in the German Regionalliga.
Max Kruse’s lingering ankle injury means that Germany’s smaller capital club will continue to seek offensive re-inforcements. After a trip to Karlsruhe last weekend for their Pokal match, talks to purchase striker Phillipp Hofmann from the KSC.
Prying Hofmann away from Karlsruhe will not be easy. The recently promoted Baden-Württenberg club, after surviving a relegation scare last season, will at least attempt to earn top-dollar for their leading goal-scorer.
Karlsruher SC sporting director Oliver Kreuzer confirmed Union’s interest in his best player on Saturday, also affirmed that the 27-year-old was not in the latest starting lineup because of ongoing negotiations.
“At the moment it only works for Phillip and Union,” Kreuzer told the local media, “It has to be a good fit for all parties. As of today, Phillip stays here.”