VfL Bochum could loan a goalkeeper to 1. FC Nürnberg during the winter break. Michael Esser is expected to replace the injured Christian Mathenia.
Michael Esser could still leave VfL Bochum in the winter. This was reported by Kicker on Thursday. According to the report, 1. FC Nürnberg is interested in the 35-year-old goalkeeper.
For the club’s regular keeper Christian Mathenia, the season has come to an early end. He suffered a serious shoulder injury. After the bitter diagnosis, those responsible around sporting director Dieter Hecking are now looking for a replacement. This is apparently to be “Bruno” Esser.
The goalkeeper, who was born in Castrop-Rauxel, has not yet played in the current season. Even under the new coach Thomas Letsch, he remains the clear number two at the Bundesliga club. The goalkeeper’s contract expires at the end of the season anyway, which is why, according to Kicker, the Nuremberg team also hopes that no transfer fee should be due, and if so, only a small one.
Esser was once promoted from his own youth team to the first team of VfL Bochum. In 2015, his path led him to Sturm Graz, after which he was a regular keeper at SV Darmstadt, Hannover 96 and, in between, a substitute keeper at TSG Hoffenheim for a year.
After promotion to the Bundesliga, Esser returned to VfL Bochum as a substitute, but since then has only made three appearances in the Bundesliga and once in the DFB Cup. One of these, however, was in the sensational 4:2 victory against FC Bayern Munich. At that time, regular keeper Riemann was ill with the coronavirus and forced to watch.
In addition to Esser and Riemann, VfL Bochum has two other goalkeepers in its squad. Finally, Marko Johansson was loaned from Hamburger SV after Paul Grave had to undergo shoulder surgery.
In the winter break, Nuremberg are just two points ahead of a relegation place. Therefore, it might be too big a risk to rely on the inexperienced Carl Klaus (28, four second division appearances) and Jan Reichert (21, still waiting for his Bundesliga debut).
