Borussia Mönchengladbach now target two Holstein Kiel strikers | OneFootball

Sport Bild reports that Borussia Mönchengladbach may be preparing to pluck two attackers away from relegated Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel. Gladbach’s interest in Kiel’s Japanese striker Shuto Machino has long been known. It now appears as if Roland Virkus and the BMG administrative team have also set their sights on Swedish international Alexander Bernhardsson.

A serious problem with Gladbach’s pursuit of Machino concerns the fact that the foals were never alone in their desire to sign the 25-year-old. The German club’s ability to invest in new players also finds itself stymied by the need to remain fiscally responsible and sell off other players first. Thus far, this has not happened.

Whether or not Berhardsson is viewed as an alternative to Machino or an equally-valued target remains unclear. In any event, the thrice-capped Swedish international would make a fine addition to the Gladbach attacker.

Bernhardsson scored seven goals and provided three assists for Marcel Rapp’s Sprinting Storks last season, in the process doubling his estimated market value from €1.5m to €3m. Kicker rated Berhardsson the best player in the squad based on cumulative notes over 19 league appearances.

Sport Bild pejoratively refers to Gladbach interest in Berhardsson as a “scouting accident”. The Niederrheiner front office opted to target him after heavy scouts of Machino.

The tabloid’s ideation can be considered silly and hyperbolic given that Gladbach didn’t need to work terribly hard to scout Bernardsson. The 26-year-old scored a goal and contributed an assist in Kiel’s 4-3 home win over Gladbach on matchday 31 this year.

GGFN | Peter Weis