Darmstadt 98: Focus on squad support – new challenges for Fernie!

Darmstadt 98: Focus on squad support – new challenges for Fernie!

SV Darmstadt 98 can look back on a mixed season that was associated with several challenges. The sporting director Paul Fernie has recognized that the squad has weaknesses in some areas. How hessenschau.de Reportedly, Fernie is not planning a major upheaval, but is instead relying on targeted fine-tuning to strengthen the team, especially after relegation from the Bundesliga.

A particular focus is on defense, where the return of Guille Bueno to Dortmund means that reinforcements in the left-back position are urgently needed. Fabian Holland, soon to turn 35, could potentially return to the team but his return remains uncertain. The central defense also sees changes as Christoph Zimmermann has left the club. Coach Kohfeldt is satisfied with the existing players, but it will be interesting to see how the situation develops.

Offensive gaps and creative challenges

Darmstadt has a creative gap to close in midfield due to the departure of Tobias Kempe and the end of Philipp Förster's loan. Fernie believes it is necessary to sign a versatile offensive director to compensate for these departures. This will be crucial for the next season in order to be able to compete.

A promising player in attack is Isac Lidberg, who scored an impressive 14 goals in 28 appearances last season. How hessenschau.de As highlighted, Lidberg has a contract until 2027, which gives the club the opportunity to calmly examine possible offers and consider how to deal with requests from other clubs. His strong performance has undoubtedly put him in the sights of other clubs.

Exciting times for transfers and squad planning

Another hot topic is Clemens Riedel's contract, whose exit clause of around two million euros has now expired. Since the player can now negotiate freely, this could still influence the composition of the squad and possibly other personnel decisions.

There are promising prospects for the transfer period. According to the transfer overview from transfermarkt.de In the current season, there were a total of 325 departures with income of 130.17 million euros, while the clubs recorded 338 additions with expenditure of around 69.19 million euros. This gives Darmstadt the opportunity to specifically invest in young talent, as the average age of newcomers is 21.4 years.

In this exciting transfer season, it's exciting to see what those responsible are planning for the Lilies in the coming period and how they will overcome the challenges.