Ole Werner plays down Ducksch exit talks

With reports from Kicker suggesting that the future of Werder Bremen veteran Marvin Ducksch is up in the air, head coach Ole Werner has played down any speculation regarding the 31-year-old.

Despite a recent automatic contract extension, Werder Bremen’s Marvin Ducksch has been linked with a move away from the club this summer. 

According to Kicker, internal decisions at the club suggest that Ducksch is not in Werder’s plans for the upcoming season. 

However, head coach Ole Werner responded calmly to the speculation. Speaking on Thursday, he remarked: “Rumours about Marvin Ducksch during the summer break are as old as Ducksch himself. Every summer I’ve been here, we’ve had these discussions, yet he’s always remained a Werder player.”

Werner acknowledged that it is normal for a club like Werder to evaluate serious offers: “If something comes along that’s attractive for both the club and the player, we sit down. But at the moment, I’m not aware of anything. The transfer window is still a bit away.”

How much could Werder earn?

Though the extension means that Ducksch won’t be leaving the club on a free transfer, any possible fee that die Grün-Weißen can expect is uncertain. 

Signing the forward from Hannover in 2021, the club initially paid €4 million. However, Kicker reports that recouping the full amount is unlikely, despite his recent contract carrying a release clause of €7 million.

Scoring form and potential destinations

Ducksch has become a reliable goalscorer in the Bundesliga across his career, and has earned two caps for die Nationalelf by doing just that. 

This season, the 31-year-old has netted seven goals and assisted teammates on eight occasions across 30 appearances, making him Bremen’s most productive player. 

Potential suitors include Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos and Turkish giants Besiktas, as per reports from Bild. 

Where Ducksch will apply his trade next remains to be seen, but it is looking increasingly likely that Bremen are potentially preparing for life without him.