Official: Hoffenheim snatch up Germany U21 prospect, ship attacker Klauss back out on loan
Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim completed two personnel transactions on Wednesday.
Baden-Württemberg's Kraichgauer trimmed their active roster by one on Wednesday, shipping 23-year-old Brazilian striker Joao Klauss de Melo over to Standard Liege in Belgium on an 18-month-loan. The long-term deal constitutes the fourth loan-out for the Latin American prospect.
Hoffenheim initially signed the player who opts to go by the deceptively German-sounding moniker "Klauss" as a 20-year-old. At the time touted as "the next Joelinton" again struggled to find his way into the regular plans of the Sinsheimers.
Injuries, COVID infections, and the rotative needs associated with the Europa league did ensure that he made 10 appearances across all competitions thus far in the 2020/21 cycle. This nevertheless proved insufficient for the player. Hoffenheim confirmed that the deal was completed at Klauss' request.
Klauss' loan was immediately preceded by a new long-term deal with his parent club. It stands to reason that the organization has no immediate plans to give up on their prospect, even if he is not scheduled to return until June 2022. No information about a buyout clause was divulged.
In the other transaction, Hoffenheim confirmed that Germany U21 left-back David Raum would join the team next season. Scouting director Alexander Rosen got an up-close look at the 20-year-old Greuther Fürth defender during his team's recent Pokal fixture against the Kleeblätter and evidently liked what he saw.
"David is an extremely talented and very fast player who's outstanding performances have made him one of the most sought after fullbacks in all of German football," Rosen wrote in published remarks.
Raum will officially join the Kraichgauer on a free transfer this summer. He's tallied thrice in over 70 appearance with his second division side. According to transfermarkt.de, his market value has doubled in the last six months to €800,000.