Fortuna Düsseldorf got off to a perfect start with six points from two games. Nevertheless, sporting director Klaus Allofs has a serious need for action.
Fortuna Düsseldorf have made a dream start. Coach Daniel Thioune’s side have picked up a perfect six points from two games with two convincing performances. That makes them third in the 2nd Bundesliga at the moment. Quite a few people believe that Fortuna will make it back to the Bundesliga this year. Especially because hardly any other team is as well-rehearsed as Fortuna. Nevertheless, the problem is currently the personnel.
The state capital has 23 players in its squad and one will leave the club in the next few days: According to the Rheinischer Post, Jakub Piotrowski will be sold to the Bulgarian top club Ludogorets Razgrad. Although this generates a further transfer income of a rumoured 1.3 million euros plus bonus payment – there was around 1.5 million euros for Khaled Narey, who had already left – the squad is now even smaller. Head coach Thioune thus has only 19 outfield players at his disposal, of whom the actually sorted out Nana Ampomah and defensive guarantor Matthias Zimmermann will be missing for weeks to come.
Sporting director Klaus Allofs is now obliged to make a move on the transfer market in the next five weeks. So far, left-back Benjamin Böckle (FC Liefering) has been the first new signing, otherwise the previous loan players Jordy de Wijs and Ao Tanaka have been signed permanently.
In order to remain competitive, the squad needs to be strengthened, especially across the board. After the departure of “Kuba”, there are only two central midfielders left, Tanaka and Marcel Sobottka. In addition, it is imperative to find a replacement for Narey, who was Fortuna’s top scorer last season. A striker is also still being sought and due to Zimmermann’s absence, Tim Oberdorf, who is actually at home in the centre, currently has to play, behind him there is only Takashi Uchino from the second team.
“We are working intensively to realise options,” Allofs announced to the RP that the deal would be completed soon. “We are talking about several reinforcements in the coming days.” However, these should not only be substitutes, but an increase in the quality of the first eleven.