Augsburg set to sign Mërgim Berisha; Chrislain Matsima joins permanently | OneFootball

Mërgim Berisha’s rumoured loan to his former club of FC Augsburg should be officially confirmed shortly. Kicker reports that Hoffenheim and Augsburg have agreed to a short-term arrangement that will nevertheless ultimately see the German striker return to the Fuggerstädter permanently.

Kicker reports of an automatic purchase option included in the loan agreement that will see a sum in the single digit million range flow into the TSG coffers once a minimum number of deployments are met. Hoffenheim will thus be able to cut their losses on a one-time €14m purchase.

In other FC-related transfer news, the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung reports that AS Monaco defender Chrislain Matsima is now permanent property of the Bavarian Swabians after his own automatic purchase clause was triggered. An internal announcement taking place at club’s New Year’s gala as its source.

Matsima – who has made 14 appearances under Jess Thorup – saw an obligatory clause in the €5m range activated shortly before the end of the calendar year, per the paper. The French Olympic youth international became a regular fixture in Thorup’s XI from match-day six onwards.

The local paper also reports that homegrown midfielder Henri Koudossou also saw his contract extended via an automatic clause in 2024. The German Togolese professional’s expiring working papers have been extended by another year following his 14 league appearances.

Matsima’s new contract apparently runs until 2029. Both players have gotten off to a strong start under Thorup in the new launder year, impressing with their work at the back in recent back-to-back 2-0 league wins over 1. FC Union Berlin and SV Werder Bremen.

GGFN | Peter Weis