Hertha Berlin will release Niklas Stark in the transfer window amid interest from Premier League duo Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United, the Bundesliga club’s sporting director tells BZ Berlin.
What do David Moyes and Bruno Lage have in common?
Well, apart from the fact that both managers are aiming for a European place ahead of the final stretch of another gruelling campaign?
Both Moyes and Lage admitted a couple of months ago that they wanted defensive reinforcements brought in.
Neither Wolves nor West Ham signed a new centre-back in January, however, so it doesn’t take a genius to work out what the two clubs will be prioritising heading into the summer transfer window.
Is Niklas Stark heading to the Premier League?
Berliner Kurier reports that Germany international Stark has admirers at Molineux and the London Stadium. Moyes is understood to be a fan of the 26-year-old colossus, who held talks with the Hammers in late-2021 (Sport1).
Stark is due to become a free-agent in July. Claims coming out of Germany this week indicated that an extension would not be offered – a fact Hertha director Fredi Bobic has now confirmed at his Friday press conference.
“It boils down to the fact that he will change (clubs),” explains Bobic. “Unfortunately, economic issues have become much more important. That’s why it’s difficult to make an adequate offer.”
Taking home a reported £32,000-a-week, Stark is one of the highest earners at a Hertha side looking to tighten the purse strings after a couple of years of heavy – and very misguided – spending.
“He has his qualities. He’ll give it his all until the end.”
Stark joined Hertha from Nurnburg all the way back in 2015 and has made over 150 appearances for the capital city club, captaining the Berliners on a number of occasions this term.
His free-agent status won’t go unnoticed either, particularly given that fellow centre-backs like Sven Botman and Duje Caleta-Car will command big fees this summer.
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