Within the Cologne soccer bubble on X, everybody agrees: Kessler is cooking! Early within the switch interval, the primary signings had been already set with Ragnar Ache and Ísak Jóhannesson, adopted by promising names like Kaminski or Özkacar.
Following the outdated adage “The most effective comes final,” a royal switch was to observe on August thirteenth, stunning many. For eight million euros in switch charges – with the choice for an extra two million by bonuses – the Cologne crew signed Rav van den Berg from FC Middlesbrough.
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The 21-year-old is following within the footsteps of his older brother Sepp, who additionally took the step into the Bundesliga earlier than his later transfer to FC Brentford and was underneath contract with Schalke and FSV Mainz. And though the step of the younger Dutchman to FC appears smart for each side, there’s a sure shadow over the switch with this sum.
Is not that an excessive amount of for a center-back? What occurs if the category shouldn’t be maintained? Would not that instantly put the newest monetary restructuring in danger?
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The latter level may be dominated out immediately. As a result of switch ban and monetary restructuring in recent times, FC has emerged from the dangerous monetary scenario after Corona. Moreover, with the gross sales of Jonas Urbig and Damian Downs, it was clear that they may dig a bit deeper into their pockets on this switch window.
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Lastly, the membership desires and must re-establish itself within the Bundesliga and, in the very best case, make the Cologne European dream no less than perspectively tangible once more. And that is the place the Cologne royal switch is available in.
“The offense wins video games, the protection wins championships” isn’t just an outdated knowledge of drunkenly discussing followers within the nook pub. An excellent protection is the important thing to long-term Bundesliga engagement. Wanting on the second division promoted groups in recent times, it is noticeable that it was usually the promoted groups with the higher protection that had been in a position to maintain their very own within the league, whereas the extra weak defensive strains had been allowed to take the direct relegation.
The most effective instance of the way to obtain long-term success within the Bundesliga by an excellent protection is 1. FC Union Berlin. After the primary promotion within the membership’s historical past in 2019 (the place they already had the very best protection by far), the Köpenickers introduced in gamers like Robin Knoche and Nico Schlotterbeck immediately as cornerstones for an excellent protection. The outcome just a few years later: virtually solely sovereignly holding the category, together with European Cup and a yr within the Champions League.
One can see: the Cologne crew has invested closely in protection – and never with out purpose. Though they solely conceded 38 objectives within the earlier second division season, the protection of the cathedral metropolis wobbled in between, and the billy goats reluctantly recall the 1:5 debacle on the Böllenfalltor towards SV Darmstadt 98.
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In an effort to stand compactly defensively and never develop into the capturing gallery of the league regardless of the energetic Kwasniok soccer, a (for Cologne requirements) massive switch was needed. With Rav van den Berg, they discovered precisely the participant who suits the profile.
The Dutchman is statistically an absolute go machine in accordance with ‘FBref’ – about 92.1 % of his passes arrive. Nonetheless, these will not be simply quick passes throughout the defensive position – he’s additionally among the many high gamers in the complete comparability for medium and lengthy distances.
On the similar time, the 1.90-meter man wins about three-quarters of his aerial duels and ranks among the many high 5 % of all gamers. Resulting from the truth that comparatively many aerial duels happen within the Bundesliga, the 21-year-old is presumably the lacking puzzle piece for defensive success.
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Financially, the deal additionally is smart for the billy goats. Though eight million euros will not be peanuts for Cologne, the participant nonetheless has loads of improvement potential and will, if all the pieces goes effectively, take the following step within the coming years for a considerably greater sum.
Van den Berg himself emphasised in his first FC interview that he desires to take the following large step in Cologne and on the similar time wants the sensation of a household ambiance. Kessler was in a position to convey this to the participant and thus outdo golf equipment like Beşiktaş, FC Chelsea, and Feyenoord, who had been additionally within the defender in accordance with numerous stories.
For 1. FC Köln, the switch is the logical consequence of the necessities that have to be met so as to achieve a foothold within the Bundesliga once more in the long run. For the participant, it’s the proper approach to advance in his profession and set up himself as a everlasting fixture in one of many high 5 leagues.
Though the switch charge shouldn’t be precisely low, this switch looks as if a traditional win-win scenario. If all the pieces goes as hoped, the FC followers are proper: Kessler is cooking – or in Dutch: Kessler kookt!
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
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