Bundesliga News

Reports:
Mainz and Olympiakos negotiate Kunde Malong deal

By Peter Weis   @PeterVicey

Multiple media sources report that FSV Mainz 05 are close to finalizing the sale of midfielder Pierre Kunde-Malong. The 25-year-old Cameroon international is apparently headed over to Olympiakos in Greece. 

Amid all of the conflicting reports concerning a transfer fee, German footballing magazine Kicker discloses that Mainzer executives Christian Heidel and Martin Schmidt are doing their level best to push the Greek Champions up to a higher sum. 
Pierre Kunde (Mainz) and Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig).
Pierre Kunde (Mainz) and Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig).Photo: GEPA Pictures/Roger Petzsche
Purchased from Athletico Madrid in July 2018 for €7.5 million, Pierre Kunde Malong has been by all accounts something of a bust in the Bundesliga. The central midfielder, after showing faint signs of a revival late in the 2019/20 campaign, has barely featured at all this season.


A lingering knee injury played a role. So too, presumably, did the midfielder's reputation for being a difficult actor to coach and trainer Bo Svensson's preference for more team-oriented professionals such as Dominik Kohr and Leandro Barreiro.

The desire of Mainz to offload him is not new, but concrete news concerning a potential buyer is. Greek radio station Sport FM reports that Olympiakos Piraeus are presently in "advanced negotiations" with the Rheinhessen for Malong's purchase. Online portal Sport24 speaks of a scheduled medical.

Journalist Benni Hofmann of German footballing magazine Kicker confirms the rumors, as does the Pfalz's Allgemeine Zeitung. Negotiations may nevertheless end up being protracted whilst the two clubs haggle over a transfer fee. Malong's recent knee surgery also means a medical will prove crucial.

On way or another, Mainz are set to take a loss on Malong. Unlike in the summer of 2018, Olympiakos does not wish to spend more than €2.5 million for the player. Hofmann and the Allgemeine Zeitung note that Heidel and Schmidt consider him worth closer to €4 million.

Both clubs will still wish to conclude a deal as the Malong is out of contract next summer.


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