By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Official: Mainz allow leading scorer Quaison to depart on a free

Confirmation of a fairly significant move involving FSV Mainz 05's current highest goal-scorer came on Thursday. 
Nordi Mukiele (left) and Robin Quaison (right).
Nordi Mukiele (left) and Robin Quaison (right).Photo: GEPA Pictures/Gabor Krieg
As expected, the Mainz attacking corps shall have a fairly different look about it next season. Two free transfers were confirmed on Thursday. The Nullfünfter confirmed that South Korean international Jae-Sung Lee would play in the Pfalz next season after the club picked up the former Holstein Kiel attacker on an expiring contract.

Another anticipated transaction was also confirmed. Swedish international Robin Quaison will depart the Bundesliga and head to Saudi Arabia on a free. In previous statements, Mainz officials publicly made clear that they could not afford to re-sign the 27-year-old striker. Quaison's current market worth of €7.5 million obviously calls for a weekly salary stipend outside the range of the Rheinhessen budget.

Quaison exits the Bundesrepublik having scored 34 goals in 130 competitive appearances for the Pfälzer over the course of five seasons for the Pfälzer. Given that the current Mainz roster--following the departure of Robert Glatzel'Ji Dong-Won and Jean-Phillipe Mateta's continued loan at Crystal Palace--only features three strikers who scored a combined seven Bundesliga goals last season, one can assume that the club will seek another attacker.

Rumors as to who will augment the current striker set of Jonathan Burkardt, Karim Onisiwo, and Adam Szalai have been difficult to come by. There had been some talk that the club sought to secure a new loan for PSV Eindhoven winger Ritsu Doan. This particular trail has gone cold as no new reports from Holland suggest that the Erdevisie side is interested in such a deal.

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