Stuttgart to sign Finkgräfe after dumping Krätzig?

German footballing journalist George Moissidis – the VfB Stuttgart correspondent for Kicker Magazine – reports that the VfB administrative team are interested in bringing Köln’s Max Finkgräfe back to the top flight. 

VfB Stuttgart – having not found much use for Bayern loanee Frans Krätzig – are reportedly interested in brining in more versatile defender winger Max Finkgräfe in during the coming January transfer window. Finkgräfe was forced to fill in at a variety of positions for relegated 1. FC Köln last year, ultimately making 24 top flight appearances and even scoring once for Timo Schultz’s Geißböcke.

The 21-year-old has nevertheless not managed to garner much playing time under Gerhard Struber in the second division this season. Finkgräfe finds himself behind Leart Paqarada on the depth chart at his preferred leg-back position. Stuttgart could offer the Gladbach-native some prospects as a back-up to Maximilian Mittelstädt; a role Krätzig hasn’t done particularly well with. 

The cathedral city side will obviously jump at just about any opportunity to liquidate some of their assets as the two-year transfer ban they’ve been operating under finally expires at the turn of the calendar year. The Domstädter have already announced their first major signing. Right-back Jusuf Gazibegovic will arrive from Austrian champions Sturm Graz for a reported €2 million. 

Finkgräfe currently maintains an estimated market worth of €6 million. Other players linked with transfers away from Köln include striker Tim Lemperle (€3 million) and all-rounder Dejan Ljubicic (€5 million). Nine other outfielders with estimated market worths below €1 million find themselves on expiring contracts.