When it comes to sporting directors, Borussia Monchengladbach’s Max Eberl is as savvy as they come.
But even he will have his work cut out this summer. After a highly disappointing eighth-place finish, a club used to continental competition have missed out on European football altogether.
Now, Gladbach face a major battle as they look to stop a talented squad of players from crumbling like a Cadbury’s Flake kept in the fridge far too long.
BILD reported in March that, if the Bundesliga giants missed out on Champions League football, a summer exodus would be unavoidable.
Having failed to qualify for the Europa League, not to mention the much-maligned UEFA Conference League, Eberl himself admitted that Gladbach may be forced to cash in on a number of players; particularly those due to become free agents in 2022.
That means Denis Zakaria, Florian Neuhaus and Matthias Ginter could be in line for an exit, with Premier League interest in the trio.
Could the new Henry be heading to Tottenham?
When it comes to Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram, Die Fohlen are under no immediate pressure to sell.
The fearsome Frenchmen are both under contract until 2023, after all.
Having said that, Plea and Thuram also happen to be Gladbach’s most sellable assets; potentially a valuable source of income at a time when one of Germany’s biggest clubs suffered the double blow of no European football and no matchday revenue.
The Mail reported in April that Arsenal are interested in Plea, an intelligent, hard-working and versatile centre-forward who looks every inch the replacement for compatriot Alexandre Lacazette.
Thuram, the 23-year-old son of Les Bleus legend Lillian, has this week been linked to Tottenham Hotspur.
A silky, skilful forward who loves to drift in from the left, Arsene Wenger once likened Thuram to Gunners legend Thierry Henry and would, in theory, go some way to filling a Harry Kane-shaped void in a team likely to be coached by Paulo Fonseca next season.
But while Gladbach may sell half of a strike-partnership who shone so brightly in 2019/20, it seems unlikely that both will go.
If Arsenal sign Plea, Thuram’s importance to new coach Adi Hutter will grow exponentially – and vice versa.
Plea and Thuram are expected to command fees in excess of £30 million too. Selling one, rather than both, will probably be enough to ease Gladbach’s financial worries too.
So with Arsenal and Tottenham both eyeing a summer raid of Borussia Park, this should add an intriguing subplot to proceedings. If one North London giant signs a Gladbach striker, that may mean their local rivals will miss out on the other.
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