Werder Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt has shed more light on his decision to leave Aston Villa and Wolves target Milot Rashica out of a pre-season friendly this week, while speaking to Kreis Zeitung.
With the new Bundesliga season now just weeks away, it seems that we are no closer to finding out what the future holds for one of the most influential and exciting attackers in German football.
The £18 million-rated Rashica has spent the entire summer being linked with the likes of Liverpool, AC Milan and RB Leipzig, while Kicker reported a few weeks ago that Aston Villa and Wolves had made offers.
As it stands, however, there is more confusion than clarity.
The claret and blue corner of social media went into meltdown when Rashica was omitted from a clash with Eintracht Braunschweig.
Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba then added fuel to the fire by posting a rather cryptic photo of his former Vitesse Arnhem team-mate on Instagram.
But, according to Kohfeldt, it is not 100 per cent certain at this stage that the winger will depart the Weser Stadium before October’s transfer deadline. More like 90 per cent, perhaps.
“Milot would not be the most unhappy person if he is still in Bremen on October 6th. Milot behaves well with the team. I would see that as an absolutely professional situation,” the coach says.
“We mutually decided not to use Milot Rashica (against Braunschweig) due to the possible situation of a transfer. I would also like to test other players in his position today.”
That final line is perhaps the most intriguing, with Kohfeldt seemingly looking in-house for a man capable of stepping into Rashica’s shoes in that wide-left position.
The Kosovo international produced 11 goals and eight assists last season, with a mesmerising performance in a 6-1 thrashing of Cologne ensuring Weder dodged relegation in dramatic fashion on the final day.
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