FC Cologne hope to sell Sebastiaan Bornauw for at least £13 million with Premier League pair Crystal Palace and Norwich City showing an interest, as reported by BILD.
He may be a centre-half by trade but it was Bornauw’s ability at the other end of the pitch that saved the skin of one of Germany’s oldest and best-supported clubs.
The Belgium international has always been a reliable source of goals, finding the net six times in 2019/20 alone.
And it was his trademark back-post header against Schalke that prevented Cologne from being relegated on the last day of another nerve-shredding Bundesliga season.
Crystal Palace and Norwich eye Bornauw bid
Now, however, the Billy Goats may have to do without one of their most reliable players ahead of another prospective relegation battle in 2022.
Sky Sports claims newly promoted Norwich City are interested in Bornauw as are a Crystal Palace side that, as it stands, will lose defenders Martin Kelly, Mamadou Sakho, Gary Cahill and Scott Dann when their contracts expire next month (BILD).
Cologne seem resigned to losing their star man but hope to receive a bid in excess of £13 million. They have already rejected a £9 million offer from Bundesliga rivals VFL Wolfsburg.
“We have received an initial written offer,” confirmed Cologne managing director Alexander Wehrle.
Interest from the Bundesliga club should be a cause of concern for Palace and Norwich. Wolfsburg qualified for the Champions League after a third-place finish last season.
Would Bornauw really turn down football at the highest level in favour of a move to England?
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