VfL Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga Transfer Primer: Challenges and Changes Ahead

The latest installment of our Bundesliga transfer primers on Get German Football News focuses on VfL Wolfsburg. Similar to Hoffenheim, the team, based in Lower Saxony, has successfully emerged from an administrative crisis and is now striving to regain its competitive footing. The appointment of Pirmin Schwegler, a former Bayern scout and Eintracht Frankfurt sporting executive, is a notable development. Newly appointed head coach Daniel Bauer appears to have garnered support from the players as well.

However, the Autostädter are still grappling with familiar issues. Since a decline in European competition nearly four years ago, the squad remains unbalanced. Bauer’s efforts to implement a straightforward and consistent tactical approach—being the first Wolfsburg coach since Oliver Glasner to field the same starting XI in three consecutive matches—have shown some promise. Yet, the collapse of his 4-2-3-1 formation during the match against SC Freiburg revealed underlying tactical deficiencies.

Interest in Wolfsburg among fans has waned, which is unfortunate given the potential trajectory of the team in the upcoming year. Will they face another relegation battle, or will they emerge as contenders for a Conference League playoff spot? Predicting the outcome is challenging, but it seems unlikely that Bauer will lead the team back to European competition. While some signs of a solid foundation are evident, significant uncertainties remain.

In our preseason evaluation, we projected a 13th place finish, while the team currently sits at 14th, with 15 points from 4 wins, 3 draws, and 8 losses, along with a goal difference of -5. The goal differential suggests that both Simonis’ and Bauer’s teams have often managed to stay competitive until the final whistle. A particularly disheartening stretch in October saw Simonis’ squad suffer defeats against VfB Stuttgart and Holstein Kiel, leading to questions about the team’s quality. Yet, an unexpected win against Hamburger SV during this period hinted at the potential within the squad.

Recent victories against Union Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach were well-deserved, showcasing a more cohesive attack. The combination of Aaron Zehnter and Patrick Wimmer on the left flank, along with new signing Saël Kumbedi and Christian Eriksen on the right, brought a refreshing dynamic to the offense. Eriksen’s resurgence is particularly beneficial, as he had previously been considered a transfer flop. Danish managing director Peter Christiansen must feel relieved as Eriksen’s performance improves.

Wolfsburg’s estimated summer transfer balance stands at -€10.5 million. In contrast to clubs like Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which enjoys significant financial backing from a pharmaceutical giant, Wolfsburg faces fiscal constraints as they rely on their automotive manufacturer sponsor, Volkswagen, whose resources are not limitless.

Christiansen’s attempts to strengthen the squad during the summer were hampered by financial limitations, notably missing out on high-value targets such as Josh Sargent. Other late transfer attempts were thwarted as clubs attempted to capitalize on Wolfsburg’s situation, resulting in loan agreements for Kumbedi, Jenson Seelt, Jesper Lindstrøm, and Adam Daghim, with Christiansen having to pay loan fees in many cases.

As Eriksen and Kumbedi find their footing, Christiansen’s earlier transfer strategy is beginning to bear fruit, but it is essential to acknowledge that several signings have not panned out. The struggles of players like Daghim, who faced an injury setback, and Lindstrøm, whose ongoing public bone issues have limited his contributions, have been particularly disappointing.

The management’s handling of the David Odogu situation raises concerns, especially with the loss of promising young talent. Furthermore, allowing key attackers such as Tiago Tomas, Vaclav Cerny, and Jakub Kaminski to depart has proven detrimental. The addition of Vinicius Souza, a defensive-minded midfielder, seems misguided given the team’s existing depth in that position, and attempts to reposition him have not yielded satisfactory results.

Wolfsburg has some pressing needs as they look to reinforce their squad, with expiring contracts for key players including Pavao Pervan, Kevin Paredes, Yannick Gerhardt, and Jonas Wind. Rumors suggest potential moves for Josh Mulligan and others, but the focus should be on achieving greater squad balance rather than further complicating their roster.

In summary, while there is optimism from recent performances, significant issues remain for VfL Wolfsburg as they strive to secure their place in the Bundesliga and improve their overall competitiveness.