Football transfers: Jérôme Boateng probably before moving to Italy

Highlights: Jérôme Boateng is said to be moving to an Italian relegation candidate. VfL Wolfsburg wants to sign striker Kevin Behrens from Union Berlin. Goalkeeper Andreas Luthe will most likely be number two in Bochum behind Manuel Riemann. Yorbe Vertessen's move from PSV Eindhoven to Union Berlin is in danger of falling through, according to Dutch media reports. and “Aalgemeen Dagblad’s” Voetbal International portal.

Who is coming, who is going? The most important transfers and rumors: today with Jérôme Boateng, who is said to be moving to an Italian relegation candidate and a possible new Bundesliga club for Kevin Behrens.

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Jérôme Boateng, here still in the Olympique Lyon jersey

Photo: Marcio Machado / Just Pictures / IMAGO

+++ RUMORS +++

Will Boateng move to the bottom of the Serie A table?

According to the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Jérôme Boateng is about to move to Italy. According to the report, the 35-year-old former world champion is set to sign a five-month contract until the end of the season with current Serie A bottom side US Salernitana. Boateng is currently without a club and most recently played for Olympique Lyon in France.

As “Gazzetta” reported, Salernitana and Boateng had already agreed on the salary: around half a million euros. However, the club from the southern Italian city of Salerno would have to sell other players first in order not to incur additional costs. Boateng's former Bayern teammate Franck Ribéry, who ended his career in Salerno in 2022, is said to have been involved in the negotiations.

At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Boateng became world champion with Germany. As a player for FC Bayern, he won numerous titles, including the Champions League twice. In October of last year, Boateng trained with FC Bayern and caused irritation. Boateng is accused of violently attacking his ex-girlfriend. He was found guilty by two courts, and in September the Bavarian Supreme Court overturned the conviction due to procedural errors. The process is being reopened. (Read more here. )

Wolfsburg is probably interested in Behrens

According to information from the “Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung” and “Bild”, VfL Wolfsburg wants to sign striker Kevin Behrens from Union Berlin. The change is possible for a “manageable amount,” according to the “Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung.” VfL is currently in eleventh place in the table and has only scored 23 goals in the current Bundesliga season.

Behrens started the current season with four goals in two Bundesliga games and even made his debut in the German national team in October 2023 under national coach Julian Nagelsmann. However, the 32-year-old Behrens has now been waiting for a goal for 22 competitive games. His contract with Union expires in the summer.

The move from Vertessen to Union is in danger of falling through

According to Dutch media reports, Union Berlin has to worry about the hoped-for signing of offensive player Yorbe Vertessen. The 23-year-old Belgian's move from PSV Eindhoven to the Bundesliga club was considered virtually certain. He was already in the capital for a medical check-up on Monday. However, the “Aalgemeen Dagblad” and the Voetbal International portal reported on Tuesday that shortly before the end of the transfer window this winter it might not work out.

The reason is said to be a long-term absence of PSV attacker Noa Lang. If Vertessen also leaves the club, the quantity in the squad will no longer be large enough for coach Peter Bosz, it was said in the “Aalgemeen Dagblad”. Vertessen could only move if Eindhoven found a replacement on the player market.

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Luthe back to Bochum

Goalkeeper Andreas Luthe returns to VfL Bochum. As the Bundesliga club announced on Monday, the 36-year-old veteran from 1. FC Kaiserslautern signed a contract until the end of the season. Luthe was trained by the Revierclub and moved to FC Augsburg in 2016. He played there for four years before joining Kaiserslautern.

Luthe will most likely be number two in Bochum behind regular goalkeeper Manuel Riemann. The actual reserve keeper Michael Esser is currently out injured. »I couldn't turn down the chance to help my hometown club again. I'm overjoyed to be home," said Luthe.

mlb/dpa