VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Transfer Journey: Challenges and Prospects

The latest installment of our 18 Bundesliga transfer primers here on Get German Football News delves into the unpredictable journey of VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. This team, forecasted for a potentially successful season, finds itself in a challenging position, currently tied with regional rivals 1. FC Köln in the league standings.

All three clubs—Gladbach, Köln, and the promoted Hamburger SV—share identical records, each amassing 16 points through four wins, four draws, and seven losses. This creates an unusual bottleneck in the standings between 11th and 13th place, with goal differentials establishing minor distinctions. Gladbach currently sits at a minus six, below Köln at minus two, and above Hamburg at minus nine. The chaotic match against Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the season, where Gladbach suffered a home defeat despite scoring four goals, now takes on significance as it statistically impacted their position in the table.

As we evaluate the current situation:

**Predicted Table Position:** 7th place
**Actual Table Position:** 12th place, 16 points
**Record:** 4 wins, 4 draws, 7 losses
**Goal Difference:** -6

After the departure of sporting director Roland Virkus, interim coach Eugen Polanski began to stabilize the team, resulting in a notable performance in the DFB-Pokal. Under Polanski’s management, the team shifted to a compact 3-6-1 formation, achieving a 3-1 victory against Karlsruher SC and a resounding 4-0 win over St. Pauli in the league shortly thereafter. Gladbach continued their momentum with victories against Köln and Heidenheim, culminating in a five-match unbeaten streak.

However, this run was halted by St. Pauli in the Pokal, yet they maintained their Bundesliga unbeaten record with a win against Mainz. This streak ended with losses to Wolfsburg and Dortmund before the year concluded, with all four league victories occurring under Polanski, amidst a backdrop of some of the poorest performances seen in the top flight in years.

**Estimated Summer Transfer Balance:** +€7m

Credit is due to Virkus for his efforts in the preceding transfer window, laying the groundwork for the current squad last January. Notably, the acquisition of Kevin Diks on a free transfer and the strategic signing of Jens Castrop from Nürnberg have proven beneficial, with both players contributing positively to the team’s dynamics.

Additionally, the unexpected return of Yannik Engelhardt to German football has yielded significant benefits, particularly in a crowded midfield. Despite initial doubts following Julian Weigl’s departure and Florian Neuhaus’ preseason struggles, Engelhardt emerged as a key player.

On the other hand, expectations for attackers Haris Tabakovic and Shuto Machino have not been met; while Machino has scored three goals under the right tactical setup, he has not reached the anticipated level of performance. Furthermore, Giovanni Reyna’s transition to the club has been largely uneventful, leading to a situation where no tangible outcomes have been realized.

New sporting director Rouven Schröder faces the challenge of offloading underperforming players, with rumors suggesting the imminent departure of Danish midfielder Oscar Fraulo. Former captain Jonas Omlin’s exit should also be manageable, despite missed opportunities to loan him out in the previous offseason. Further, Nathan Ngoumou is expected to receive another chance following his return from injury, while Kevin Stöger might find himself on the way out after falling out of favor.

Schröder aims to integrate young talents like Jan Urbig and Charles Herrmann into the first team while considering loans for promising players Niklas Swider and Wael Mohya. With expiring contracts on the horizon, including those of Tobias Sippel, Luca Netz, and Marvin Friedrich, the club must address further needs in several positions, namely left-back, center-back, right-back, attacking midfielder, and right winger.

At a recent press conference, Schröder acknowledged the challenges of operating on a limited budget, a legacy of previous financial overextensions and the pandemic’s impact. His priority will be strengthening the right-back position, where Joe Scally is currently overburdened. There is speculation around potential signings, including Omar Haktab Traoré from Heidenheim, a name gaining traction in the German media.

Despite the challenges, the upcoming transfer window holds the potential for significant changes as the club seeks to improve its standing in the Bundesliga.