The transfer window is still open until February 1. The management of VfL Bochum gave an update on their activities.
Despite a good performance, VfL Bochum lost the Revierderby at Borussia Dortmund 1:3 (1:1). After the game, sports director Patrick Fabian and sports director Marc Lettau gave a status report on the transfer window, which is about to close.
“It was certainly one of the best performances here in Dortmund and should have been rewarded with a point,” said Fabian. Lettau could only agree. ‘We took a brave approach and held our own well.’
That should be the end of the sporting side of things at this point. The game itself and controversial referee decisions have already been written about elsewhere. However, the transfer phase is not yet over.
The window is still open until February 1. When asked how exciting the last few days would be, Fabian replied: “No more exciting than the crime scene on Sunday evening.” So everyone is free to do what they want.
At least one of them will definitely come. As for goalkeeper Andreas Luthe, only the obligatory checks would have to be carried out. “I assume that it will work out and otherwise let yourself be surprised.” That of course leaves room for speculation.
After all, Fabian and Lettau had only recently indicated in a conversation with journalists that they wanted to sign another offensive player. ‘It’s already relatively concrete, we’re in discussion and hope to have an agreement soon,’ Lettau had said at the time.
But that sounded quite different after the Dortmund game. “We won’t fall back on pragmatism and do something just for the sake of it. We remain convinced that we have squad players who have the potential to be really good.”
In this context, Lettau mentioned Moritz Kwarteng, who got back into the game after three games without being used against Dortmund. Bochum had actually been targeting a player like him, a hybrid striker, this winter.
“We are all convinced that he will play an important and crucial role for us in the future.” Shoring him up is, of course, commendable, but it sounds like at least one winter transfer fell through behind the scenes.
Lettau ruled out anything other than a permanent signing. “We’re not going to bring in some random player on loan and put him in front of our players at the last minute and block them. There would be nothing to be gained from that.”
On the outgoing transfers side, only the names of the usual suspects were mentioned. Moritz Römling and Mats Pannewig are still being targeted for a loan. There are not expected to be any further departures.