The English week in the 3rd division is also used by many scouts and representatives of the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga to watch interesting players. This also happened at the stadium on Hafenstraße.

During the 3:1 victory of Rot-Weiss Essen against FC Viktoria Cologne, a number of agents as well as scouts and representatives of first and second division clubs were present in the main stand of the stadium.

If you are angry with FC Viktoria, then you could easily claim that there were more club officials and player agents in the stands than away fans from Cologne in the very small away section.

Forecasting could see representatives of second division clubs in particular. The Essen victory over Cologne was seen, for example, by employees of 1. FC Nürnberg, Karlsruher SC and Hertha BSC.

RS knows: The sporting directors of FC Schalke 04, Andre Hechelmann and Marc Wilmots, had also had two VIP tickets deposited for the RWE vs. Viktoria game, but canceled at short notice.

According to RS information, one player in the focus of these second division clubs, including Schalke, is Luca Marseiler.

The 26-year-old is playing a strong season – 19 games, nine goals, three assists – and wants to leave Viktoria in the summer on a free transfer. Oliver Seibert, Marseiler’s agent, said at the beginning of January: “Out of respect for the confidential talks with the clubs, I am not giving any updates. But the fact is that he has played himself into the spotlight. He will be playing in the Bundesliga 1 or 2 from July 1.”

At least in the 90 minutes in Essen, the striker could not show his best side. He conceded the yellow card in the 41st minute and was replaced after 69 minutes.

Meanwhile, Marseiler’s teammate Donny Bogicevic was more conspicuous. The 22-year-old offensive player initiated some dangerous Viktoria attacks, especially in the first half, and was also able to score the interim 1-2 goal. In addition to Marseiler, the Schalke officials are said to have set their sights on Bogicevic in particular – 16 games, four goals, two assists. However, according to our information, both players are to be considered for the 2024/2025 squad.

In the current transfer period, Schalke has other priorities, such as the position of right back. Hechelmann and Wilmots were also said to be on the way there on Tuesday evening for this position, instead of going to Essen to see Marseiler and Bogicevic in person.