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Bryan Zaragoza could strengthen FC Bayern sooner than expected
Photo: Samuel Carreño / IMAGO / Samuel Carreno
+++ RUMORS +++
Zaragoza should step in for Coman this season
According to media reports, Spanish offensive player Bryan Zaragoza is moving from FC Granada to FC Bayern Munich with immediate effect. As the “Sportbuzzer” portal and the TV channel Sky report, the 22-year-old’s transfer is scheduled to take place this Thursday and thus on the last day of the winter transfer window.
Zaragoza is due to arrive in Munich on Thursday morning. If everything goes according to plan, he could be in the German record champions' squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (3:30 p.m., TV: Sky).
Zaragoza was actually only supposed to move to FCB in the summer and receive a five-year contract. Zaragoza will most likely come now for around 4.5 million euros in addition to the originally agreed deal with a transfer fee of around 15 million euros to compensate for the loss of the injured Kingsley Coman. Munich's sports director Christoph Freund confirmed on Tuesday that discussions were being held about an earlier commitment.
+++ FIX +++
Previous leader Amiri should keep Mainz in the league
Relegation-threatened Mainz 05 has strengthened itself in the fight to stay in the league with Nadiem Amiri from league leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Both clubs announced this on Wednesday evening. The midfielder, who played five international matches under then national coach Joachim Löw between 2019 and 2020, will receive a contract until the summer of 2026. According to information from various media, the transfer fee will be around 1.5 million euros, but the clubs did not provide any information.
"We were looking for a creative, fast midfielder who could help our offense immediately - and found a very good solution in Nadiem Amiri," said Mainz sports director Christian Heidel. With his experience, the 27-year-old will “immensely strengthen” the second-to-last team in the table, Heidel continued.
Amiri recently only made eight short appearances in Leverkusen. Since the summer of 2019, he has made a total of 146 appearances for the Werkself, in which he scored twelve goals. His contract in Leverkusen would have expired in the summer. Mainz was looking for an attacking player after only 14 goals this season.
Behrens is now attacking for Wolfsburg
The transfer of striker Kevin Behrens from 1. FC Union Berlin to VfL Wolfsburg is perfect, the clubs agreed on an immediate move for the 32-year-old. "Kevin comes from current game operations, he knows the league and will therefore only need a short period of getting used to it," said VfL sports director Sebastian Schindzielorz on Wednesday evening.
VfL did not provide any information about the duration of the contract; according to media reports, Behrens is said to have signed until 2026. A low single-digit million sum is being discussed as a transfer fee.
Behrens scored four goals in the first two games of this season and then made his debut in the German national team in October against Mexico (2-2) as a joker for a few minutes. Since this successful start to the season, the Bremen native has not scored another goal; coach Nenad Bjelica recently stopped relying on him as a regular starter. The Wolfsburg team, on the other hand, lacked an alternative to their striker Jonas Wind in attack. Lukas Nmecha was injured for months and summer transfer Amin Sarr has been disappointing so far.
For the Union team, who are threatened with relegation, the farewell to Behrens finally means a turning point in the offensive. Sheraldo Becker had previously moved to Real Sociedad San Sebastian, David Fofana was recalled from his parent club Chelsea FC and loaned out to Burnley FC. The Iron Men brought in Chris Bedia from Servette Geneva. It remains to be seen whether Yorbe Vertessen's desired transfer from PSV Einhoven will still be successful on Thursday.
ast/dpa/sid