German clubs expect drastic drops on international transfer markets

Sports Tuesday 24/March/2020 18:46 PM
By: Times News Service
German clubs expect drastic drops on international transfer markets

Berlin: German clubs currently expect drastic changes in international transfer markets due to the coronavirus crisis.

"We will see a transfer period we have never experienced before," Oliver Mintzlaff is predicting. The RB Leipzig's CEO says effects will equally be significant for clubs and players.

Like other officials, Mintzlaff is convinced that transfer sums will drop aside from budget reductions and job cuts for staff around the professional teams.

Clubs across the continent expect substantial losses. The Norwegian association president Terje Svendsen said football needs a transfer ban "as long as the situation hasn't changed." An appeal to UEFA has been made.

Most contracts contain clauses allowing players to leave for free when on leave for two weeks. "Suspensions for two weeks could be the only solution for smaller clubs to survive the crisis," Svendsen suggested.

The issue of transfers seems to provide a large number of potential pitfalls.

Exit clauses, so far seen as a bargain-like opportunity for interested clubs, might change into insurmountable barriers.

Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano was said to have caused the interest of several top European sides. Considering the economic effects of the crisis, the 60 million euro exit clause of the 21-year-old French international is likely discouraging possibly interested parties.

Wolfsburg's CEO Joerg Schmadtke indicated offers already made to players to extent their contract might have to be reduced.

The former goalkeeper said: "Of course is the unpredictable situation going to affect all sorts of contract issues."

On top, current contracts ending on June 30 must be extended until the 2019/20 season can be finished. Predictions talk about July or August.

Mintzlaff said his side could deal with a break of two months, providing no intake. The club has set up an emergency plan listing up cuts regarding strategical measures. Leipzig sends 90 percent of its staff on home-office.

Most clubs use home-office video sessions to keep their players in the best possible shape until further decisions are expected after an emergency meeting of all 36 professional clubs and the league association DFL scheduled for March 30.

Meanwhile, several sides fear losing some of their prominent sponsors due to the crisis affecting the country's economy.

Eintracht Frankfurt, league newcomer SC Paderborn, and the SC Freiburg see construction projects in danger. While Frankfurt is on the way to set up a new education campus, Freiburg is busy trying to build a new arena while Paderborn intended to expand their stadium.

Most plans to carry out further investments regarding the team's squad will have to be skipped, functionaries claim.

Werder Bremen is worried purchase commitments for on-loan-players anchored in current treaties won't meet the line of future market developments. Renegotiations are inevitable, Werder underlined.

On the other hand, new opportunities seem to emerge. The striven transfers of Manchester City star Leroy Sane and Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz might get cheaper for the German ruling champion Bayern Munich.

Havertz's value was rated at around 100 million euros. The figure is expected to drop now.