Rot-Weiss Essen is still searching for a striker. One candidate is no longer playing for his current employer. A few days ago, Forecasting reported that Rot-Weiss Essen had expressed interest in Jannik Mause. RS knows that initial informal talks have already taken place between RWE and Mause’s representatives. Interest is growing on both sides. It’s clear that Rot-Weiss Essen is still looking for a striker for its squad, which currently only has Marek Janssen in attack. And Mause, whose contract with second division club 1. FC Kaiserslautern runs until June 30, 2027, no longer plays a role at Betzenberg.

FCK coach Torsten Lieberknecht has six (!) center forwards in Mahir Emreli, Dickson Abiama, Daniel Hanslik, Richmond Tachie, Ivan Prtajin, and Mause. There is currently no place for Mause. He is only number six in the rankings.

“Jannik and his agent are aware of the situation. It is difficult for him and has been clearly communicated. We agree that Jannik needs playing time in the coming season. It will be very difficult for him to get playing time at 1. FC Kaiserslautern at the moment. Let’s see what happens with this personnel issue in the coming days and weeks,” FCK sporting director Thomas Hengen told Forecasting on Saturday (July 5, 2025).

It is currently even difficult for Mause to play in a test match. Kaiserslautern are taking part in the SSV Reutlingen blitz tournament on Saturday. And Mause did not make it into the squad.

RWE are showing great interest in the 28-year-old. But Essen also have some stiff competition. In recent days, other clubs have also stepped up their interest in Mause. According to RS information, FC Hansa Rostock is currently in pole position. But 1. FC Saarbrücken is also vying for the former third division top scorer – 33 games, 18 goals, four assists – in the 2023/2024 season.

And there is also interest in Mause from abroad. He currently seems to be spoiled for choice – only 1. FC Kaiserslautern has no future for him. The same goes for his former club Alemannia Aachen. The Kaiserstädter have no interest in Mause returning. “Erdal Celik, Alemannia Aachen’s squad planner, told Forecasting: ”Jannik Mause is not an option for us at the moment. We have other strikers in our sights.”

Rot-Weiss Essen: Dominic Baumann is also a topic of discussion at RWE

Sources close to Rot-Weiss Essen have now revealed that the club has inquired about Dominic Baumann in addition to Mause. The 30-year-old has been relegated from the 3rd division three times in a row with FSV Zwickau, Halleschen FC, and SV Sandhausen.

However, it was not the fault of the 1.78-meter-tall, burly center forward. Baumann was the top scorer for his team in Zwickau (14 goals), Halle (15), and Sandhausen (12).