Austrian Striker Michael Gregoritsch Approaches Bundesliga Return

Sky Germany has reported that Austrian striker Michael Gregoritsch is on the verge of returning to the Bundesliga. The German broadcaster indicates that negotiations are currently underway for Gregoritsch to join a top-flight club in Germany, although the specific team has not been disclosed.

The 31-year-old forward, who has represented Austria 72 times, recently departed the Bundesliga after moving from Freiburg to Copenhagen’s Brøndby IF this past summer. This transition initially signaled the end of his long-standing tenure in German football, which spanned 13 years across three tiers.

Gregoritsch has made a commendable impact in the Danish SuperLiga; however, he has expressed disappointment that Brøndby IF did not qualify for European competition. With the World Cup approaching, he is eager to return to the Bundesliga to better prepare for his international duties. Before his transfer to Denmark, he was linked to potential moves to 1. FC Köln and SV Werder Bremen.

While Köln appears sufficiently staffed at the striker position, Bremen could be a viable option given their pressing need for a forward. Moreover, both Hamburg teams have recently faced injury setbacks in the striker role. Hamburger SV will be without their captain, Yussuf Poulsen, due to a congenital injury until March. Similarly, St. Pauli’s Andreas Hountondji has opted out of representing Benin in the Africa Cup of Nations to rehabilitate his injuries, only to now face an indefinite absence due to an ankle fracture.

Both St. Pauli and Hamburger SV are among Gregoritsch’s former clubs in the Bundesliga. Augsburg, another one of his previous teams, is also seeking a new center forward and may consider bringing him back. Gregoritsch enjoyed a successful five-season stint at Augsburg from 2017 to 2022, where he scored 13 league goals in his debut season.