After four games without a win in a row and a nine-point gap to third place in the relegation play-offs, Rot-Weiss Essen can actually start planning for the next third division season.
First of all: Rot-Weiss Essen is playing a strong season. Even if the dreams of promotion to Bundesliga 2 are now only mathematical. With nine matchdays to go, RWE is nine points behind third place in the promotion relegation places and ten points behind the two direct promotion places.
The last four games in a row without a win have set RWE back somewhat. Essen’s form is currently stagnating. The Hafenstrasse fortress has crumbled recently – defeats against Ulm and Unterhaching. In between, Rot-Weiss managed a fortunate 2:2 draw in Dresden, followed recently by a 1:1 draw in Verl. Next Sunday (March 17, 1:30 p.m., live ticker), Borussia Dortmund II will visit the Hafenstraße stadium. The team will then take a 14-day break.
And during this break, those responsible around sporting director Christian Flüthmann and squad planner Marcus Steegmann will have their hands full.
After all, with 15 contracts expiring, they will have to deliver results. Some players must be retained at all costs, while others no longer have a future at Hafenstrasse. And: there are also two shaky candidates.
Etri and Obuz are leaving – Rother, Rüth and Plechaty have not received any offers – Kaiser and Voelcke are in a tight spot
Among the confirmed departures are home-grown player Ahmed Etri, who is moving to TSG Hoffenheim II, and loan player Marvin Obuz, who will definitely return to the cathedral city on July 1, 2024 – regardless of whether 1. FC Köln is in the league in the 2024/2025 season.
As this editorial team has also learned, Sandro Plechaty, Fabian Rüth and Björn Rother will no longer be Rot-Weiss Essen players from July 1, 2024. Not really a surprise. All you need to do is look at their seasons and form – Plechaty’s form was poor even before the injury. The trio did not provide any arguments for a new contract offer at RWE in the 2023/2024 season.
It will also be difficult for 22-year-olds Nils Kaiser and Sascha Voelcke to continue their careers. Kaiser has played just 186 minutes this season, while Voelcke has played 355 minutes. The only thing that speaks for both of them is that they are U23 players who RWE can assess very well. However, it is also true that neither Kaiser nor Voelcke will strengthen Christoph Dabrowski’s team in the coming season. Tendency: both will not receive any contract offers.
After Brumme – Rios Alonso and Eisfeld’s contracts will also be extended
The future of left-back Lucas Brumme and central defender José-Enrique Rios Alonso is also clear. Their contracts have been extended until June 30, 2025, with Rios Alonso, according to our information, also having a clause in his contract that gives him the opportunity to move to the Bundesliga 1 or 2 or abroad for a high six-figure transfer fee. In a long summer transfer window, the RWE managers will certainly (have to) always have this case in mind.
The tenth player whose future has been clarified is Thomas Eisfeld. The central midfielder also has an option in his contract, which is about to be exercised. He will therefore remain in Essen.
That leaves five players without a ticket from 1 July 2024. It is clear that Rot-Weiss Essen want to keep defensive boss Felix Götze and midfield strategists Cedric Harenbrock and Torben Müsel. Talks are still ongoing with these key players. Felix Wienand only extended his contract on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Götze feels right at home in Essen, as do veteran Harenbrock and attacker Müsel. The players’ advisors have also told this editorial team. However, it is also obvious that this trio had played their way into the spotlight through strong performances. The outcome is currently completely open.
Figures speak against an RWE future for Young and Berlinski
The situation is different for Isaiah Young and Ron Berlinski. However, the trend here is likely to be towards a departure. According to our information, Young is one of the higher earners in the squad. He could only be kept at Hafenstrasse after promotion in the summer of 2022 with a substantial pay rise. But his performances have stagnated. Four goals and just one assist in this third division season are not enough for a man with these skills. In comparison: Obuz, on the other wing, has scored seven goals and set up a further ten.
RWE have been looking around for alternatives for the wings for some time now – and not just because Obuz is set to leave. The deal with Schalke’s Nelson Amadin fell through in January 2024, but according to our information, RWE currently have other wingers on their list and are holding talks in the near future.
Also with players from the Regionalliga West. Obuz is going to Cologne, Young will probably not receive a new contract. At RWE, everything speaks for a “winger-lifting” for the new season.
Opinions are divided when it comes to Berlinski: he is an absolute crowd favorite, but recently lost some of his credit due to his stupid red card. Seven goals in the last and two goals in the current third league series read very poorly for a striker.
With Leonardo Vonic (until 2026) and Moussa Doumbouya (until 2025) still tied to RWE, it is hard to imagine that the club will make Berlinski a contract offer. Possibly only if the 30-year-old would clearly identify with a wild card role.
Because it is obvious that RWE lack a real goalscorer and should be looking for one for the new season. Neither Vonic (four goals), Doumbouya (3) nor Berlinski (2) have proved to be goal scorers in 23/24.