Philipp Pentke is currently allowed to keep fit at 1. FC Köln. (Photo: Bucco)
1. FC Köln have loaned Jonas Urbig to SpVgg Greuther Fürth for a year and are also looking for a new number two. This should be committed with a clear perspective for a season – and that’s why it makes it difficult.
Philipp Pentke is currently allowed to keep fit at 1. FC Köln. The 38-year-old goalkeeper was last number three at TSG Hoffenheim. However, the keeper has been without a club since the summer and accordingly made a training request to Christian Keller, who had worked together with Pentke in Regensburg.
It is therefore reasonable to assume that Pentke could take on the role of number two at FC next season. However, Keller disagreed – at least for the time being. “I don’t want to speculate about it after a training session. At the moment the deal is that he just trains with us.”
Urbig could inherit Schwäbe as early as 2024
The fact that FC has not been able to present a new number two since Timo Horn’s decision to leave FC is not only due to the requirement profile for the goalkeeper, but also to the willingness of suitable candidates to become number two in Cologne. Because this role should only be assigned for one year. Then Jonas Urig should return from Fürth and get an open duel with Marvin Schwäbe.
At least that’s how Keller explained it on Monday. “We think very highly of Jonas Urbig and trust him that he will be able to score a goal in the Bundesliga in the medium term,” said Keller on Monday. “Against this background, it is clear to us that he should compete with Marvin Schwäbe for first place next summer.”
On the one hand, this means that Schwäbe recently extended his contract until 2027, so he still has a four-year contract. However, Urbig has long been considered the crown prince and probably only extended his contract until 2026 because he was promised a real chance at number one – and that from summer 2024.
FC is looking for a bridging goalkeeper
This commitment, in turn, makes the search for a new number two for 2023/24 all the more difficult. Because the newcomer will either only get a one-year contract with FC or move down another link in the hierarchy in 2024. But who sits on the bench at FC for a year – provided Marvin Schwäbe stays healthy – and then automatically accepts demotion to number three in 2024?
Cologne’s head of sport is certain that he will find a suitable candidate over time. “Germany is a goalkeeper country. So there are goalkeepers, also abroad,” explained Keller. “We are looking for someone who is willing to fill this important gap for the year. And it must also be clear to him that if he were to get a longer-term contract, he would be number three next season.”
The prerequisite for this constellation is, of course, that Urbig first prevails in Fürth and plays a successful second division year. However, people at Geißbockheim are convinced of that. The question of the second goalkeeper for the next twelve months, however, remains open for the time being, despite training guest Philipp Pentke.
2023-07-11 15:05:10
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