January 2025 Transfer Primer: VfL Bochum | OneFootball

VfL Bochum

Estimated Autumn Transfer Balance = +€4.8 million

The German top flight's most troubled club managed to at least conclude the calendar year with their first win of the current season. Three points secured on the pitch means a great deal to the Revierklub, who are also fighting to earn another three points bureaucratically via an official protest lodged against the draw with 1. FC Union Berlin after a flare throwing incident caused play to be suspended late. To say that Bochum experienced a tumultuous year is an understatement. Most of what this club experienced borders on the scarcely believable.

The squad presently operates under its fourth coach in 12 months. Top administrators Patrick Fabian and Marc Lettau have both been sacked. The team survived the drop at the end of last season in the most sensational of fashions with an incredible comeback against Düsseldorf in the relegation playoffs. Following that, a through Summer upheaval saw them immediately bid farewell to ten players after competitive play concluded. All told, 13 players would end up leaving over the Summer.

Before he himself got the axe, Lettau brought in a highly intriguing Summer transfer class that featured three players with an estimated market worth of €4 million or higher brought in on either loans or frees. Previous trainer Peter Zeidler incurred quite a bit of criticism for not figuring out a way to properly place actors such as Ibrahima Sissoko, Dani de Wit, and Myron Boadu. Current head-coach Dieter Hecking - despite his extensive experience - doesn't appear entirely sure what to make of the roster he inherited either.

Dead-Weight Ledger = Manuel Riemann (GK), Paul Grave (GK), Noah Loosli (CB), Mohammed Tolba (CB), Mats Pannewig (CM), Lennart Koerdt (ATTM), Lukas Daschner (ATTM), Mortiz Broni-Kwarteng (ATTM)

If current managing director Ilia Kaenzig can get any of the dead weight off of this roster, it shall be considered a victory. Loan outs for the above listed players count as a win as it will reduce payroll liabilities. Even small transfers serve as a bonus. Bochum, it may surprise some to learn, aren't a total financial disaster of a club. A state-of-the-art stadium still brings in significant revenue both for club matches as well as friendlies for the German national teams. The front office's long term outlays gave also been reduced after most all of the recent coaches they fired found employment elsewhere.

Expiring contracts =  Bernardo (LB), Felix Passlack (RB), Cristian Gamboa (RB), Anthony Losilla (DM), Gerrit Holtmann (LW)

Should the 1848ers pull off another "great escape", another Summer of upheaval beckons. Having already extended his contract by one additional year two seasons in-a-row, 38-year-old skipper Anthony Losilla surely heads towards retirement. Talks with Gamboa, Losilla, and Holtmann won't take place until next season's level is clear. This trio of players could conceivably garner interest in the transfer market and might be sold. Bernardo - who came close to being sold over the summer - probably stays put as Hecking desperately needs him.

Further Needs =  GK, CB, ADM, ATTM, AM, LS

When assessing prospects for the New Year, two matters take precedence. First, from the relegation-race-arithmetic perspective, the German FA gets set to rule on Bochum's challenge to the Union result on January 6th. Through the magic of what Germans refer to as the "grünen Tisch", Bochum's season points total could increase by nearly one-third before another ball is kicked. The league's last-placed side might even pull themselves even with Kiel on points before play resumes.

Next, regarding the chances of 2014 German World Cup winner Christoph Kramer returning to German football, the author considers it actually rather likely that the VfL administrative team shall make it happen. Unfortunately, it will make even less of a difference that the time Sead Kolasinac, Shkodran Mustafi, and Klass Jan-Huntelaar all joined Schalke in the January 2021 transfer window. Footballing public relations stunts involving aged and injury-prone professionals never work out.

Overall, Bochum fans do deserve to hope to avoid relegation this year. Hecking's progress with the team proceeds slowly, yet remains observably steady. Hecking's piecemeal approach first aimed at getting the squad to build up more confidence a compact defensive unit. More self-belief and passion slowly emerges. Offensive efficiency arrives now that Sissoko knows how he's meant to pull the strings in midfield. A healthy Myron Boadu, or another attacking addition, is needed.

Rumored Links = Emil Gazdov (GK), Rey Manaj (LS), Christoph Kramer (DM), Mikael Uhre (CF)