Rot-Weiss Essen currently has 19 players in its squad for the 2024/2025 season. But not all of these professionals are set to start the new series with RWE. Reinforcements are still being sought.

Tom Moustier (Hannover 96 II) and Ramien Safi (SV Rödinghausen): These are the names of Rot-Weiss Essen’s two external additions so far for the 2024/2025 season.

They are joined by Ben Heuser (most recently on loan to Cosmos Koblenz), who still has a contract until June 30, 2025, and Gianluca Swajkowski, who received a professional contract as an U19 player. According to our information, another promising A-youth talent will be given a professional contract in the next few days.

Keyword contract: Forecasting has learned that a contract extension has also been put on the table for Nils Kaiser. However, the home-grown player is still hesitating. Other clubs are also said to have become aware of the 22-year-old all-rounder Kaiser.

Sascha Voelcke is still flirting with an RWE offer, but has also received external inquiries. And then there is the matter of Cedric Harenbrock. RWE wants to, but Harenbrock does not (yet). Or rather, he is still hoping for the Bundesliga 2. It remains to be seen when Rot-Weiss will run out of patience.

Currently – see squad overview in the info box – Rot-Weiss Essen have 19 players under contract for the coming season. But: Aaron Manu no longer plays a sporting role. RWE is hoping that his contract will be terminated. Manu is said to still have a good market in the regional league. Something could happen. The situation is similar for Heuser, who played a decent series at Cosmos Koblenz (32 games, five goals, eight assists), but is unlikely to be a boost in the 3rd division

With Felix Wienand (21), Mustafa Kourouma (21), Gianluca Swajkowski (19), Eric Voufack (22) and Leonardo Vonic (20) as well as the U19 player who will be promoted to professional at the end of the week, Essen’s U23 section is also well-staffed. José-Enrique Ríos Alonso (23) and Tom Moustier (22), a Frenchman, no longer fulfill the U23 regulations.

RWE will continue to search for reinforcements in the coming days and weeks. Because it is clear that such reinforcements are needed: For the right side of defense – neither Andreas Wiegel nor Voufack were able to convince, all-rounder Kaiser with cutbacks – for the central defense, for the wings and for the attack. In addition to Moustier, there may also be a reinforcement for the center of midfield.

And names are already being speculated – here are 07 names that have been linked with RWE according to forecasting information and other media:

Tobias Kraulich (Dynamo Dresden, central defender, 25 years old): RS already mentioned him as a possible RWE addition. Or rather: According to our information, the Essen management would very much like to see him at Hafenstraße and present him as Felix Götze’s successor. RS recently heard from the RWE ranks that this commitment would be difficult to realize. Kraulich earns a monthly fee in the five-figure range in Dresden, Dynamo want to keep him and, in addition to Essen and Arminia Bielefeld, second division clubs are also interested in the 1.90 meter tall central defender.

Antonio Foti (Eintracht Frankfurt, central midfield, 20 years old): Players from Hannover or with a 96 past are welcome at RWE. Niklas Tarnat, Lawrence Ennali, Moussa Doumbouya, Ekin Celebi and Tom Moustier send their regards.

Foti is actually tied to Eintracht Frankfurt until June 30, 2025, but has spent the last two years in Hanover. He played 19 games for the Hannover professionals (one goal, two assists) and nine matches for the Lower Saxony reserves (nine goals, two assists). He is a possible replacement for Harenbrock. According to our information, he has already been at the table with RWE, but Borussia Dortmund’s U23s and VfB Stuttgart’s second team, who will soon be playing in the 3rd division, are also said to be in the Foti poker.

Florian Kleinhansl (VfL Osnabrück, left-back, 23 years old): Rot-Weiss Essen were already interested in him in the summer of 2023. RWE had high hopes for this transfer. However, VfL Osnabrück were promoted to the 2nd division and Kleinhansl’s contract was extended. Forecasting reported.

Now he is available on a free transfer following Osnabrück’s direct relegation. He played 33 games in the past second division season (one goal, five assists). RWE are said to have made another approach. Why? Because Lucas Brumme, a top left-back, is a nominal offensive left-back and could certainly move up a position if RWE could get such a strong left-back as Kleinhansl. But here too, the competition is fierce with second division clubs such as Eintracht Braunschweig, Darmstadt 98 and 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Jonas Scholz (Fortuna Köln, central defender, 25 years old): One of the best central defenders in the Regionalliga West. He could certainly have been in the eleven of the season. However, RS opted for the trio of Lion Schweers (Wuppertaler SV), Lukas Frenkert (1. FC Bocholt) and Mika Hanraths (Alemannia Aachen). But behind them comes Scholz for us immediately. 1.90 meters tall, strong in tackles and headers, including excellent anticipation. The RWE managers should consider this signing. But: Scholz should not be a priority here. Nevertheless: With Kourouma and Rios Alonso, RWE only have two central defenders – assuming Manu leaves Rot-Weiss. A top man for Götze – and possibly Scholz. A very realistic central defender scenario for RWE.

Michael Schultz (Viktoria Köln, central defender, 30 years old) and Christoph Greger (Viktoria Köln, central defender, 27 years old): The duo have been linked with Rot-Weiss Essen by our colleagues at the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”. We’ll keep it short: According to our information, the Viktoria center-back duo is not an issue at Hafenstraße – Forecasting reported.

Dominic Baumann (Hallescher FC, striker, 29 years old): 37 games, 14 goals in the 2022/2023 season for FSV Zwickau and now 37 games and 15 goals for Hallescher FC. A goalscorer who was relegated twice. It’s hard to imagine if he had played for a promotion hopeful with this rate – like RWE, for example. Last season, he was under discussion in Essen, but those responsible decided against signing Baumann. Now he could become an issue again. Following HFC’s relegation, he is available on a free transfer and Rot-Weiss are looking for a goalscorer. Ron Berlinski is leaving, as is well known, leaving a vacancy in attack alongside Moussa Doumbouya and Leonardo Vonic. But, as is so often the case, other teams also know what this player can do. 1. FC Saarbrücken are said to be a hot candidate to sign Baumann. Dynamo Dresden are also said to be interested in the full-blooded center forward