Daniel Farke is the latest Bundesliga managerial appointment having landed the Borussia Monchengladbach head coach role, as Die Fohlen prepare for the 2022/23 campaign.
After struggling during the 2021/22 season Die Fohlen potted their head coach, Adi Hutter, at the end of the campaign and they have been quick to appoint Farke on a three-year contract, after he had already been linked with Championship club Blackburn Rovers.
The former Norwich manager has been successful in England’s second tier but he struggled to get the Canaries singing in the Premier League. In his two seasons managing in the top flight his side won just six of 49 games, drawing eight and losing 35 with a goal difference of 31 for and 101 against. But he led the Norfolk side to the Premier League twice, with hugely impressive promotion campaigns in the Championship.
Gladbach finished tenth in the Bundesliga last season and Farke will be tasked with winning European football again for the famous old side. The 45-year-old boss has been keen to move to his homeland and jumped at the chance to move to Monchengladbach. He was a free agent after leaving Russian club Krasnador in March where he’d been since being sacked by the Canaries in November and this is his first chance to manage in the Bundesliga top division, having coached Borussia Dortmund before moving to Norwich in 2017.
Mane keeps the fans guessing
The saga surrounding the potential departure of Robert Lewandowski and who might replace him rumbles on, and his potential replacement, Sadio Mane, is still uncertain about his own future; or so he says. Following his hat-trick in Senegal’s win over Benin at the weekend, reporters asked Mane where he was heading, FC Bayern, Real Madrid or Barcelona, if he does indeed leave Anfield, and he replied: “Hey, you know I’m not a fan of these teams. My club is Marseille. I would rather say Marseille.”
That’s not exactly what Bayern fans would be happy to hear but they may take heart from the reports in Liverpool that Thiago Alcantara has offered his house in Munich for Mane to stay in. Bayern have already made one bid of £25m which Liverpool declined, and the Bavarians might be ready to table a second bid any time now.
Dortmund man Nico is ready for action
Borussia Dortmund are about to embark on a pre-season trip to Ghana and, on their return they will be joined by new signing Nico Schlotterbeck after the 22-year-old centre-back made the switch from SC Freiburg.
Here at SBOTOP we picked out Schlotterbeck as the standout defender in the Bundesliga. The 22-year-old was Freiburg’s best defensive player in a successful campaign which ended with Europa League qualification, and he also scored four goals and made an assist as he became one of the most sought-after players in the German league. Die Schwarzgelben quickly made their move, shelling out 25m Euros for the player.
Schlotterbeck is delighted with the transfer, saying: “They simply gave me the impression I can take the next step here. I’ve heard a lot about the club, you see a lot about the fans. That impresses me and I’m really up for it now.”
The Bundesliga 2022 betting odds will likely install BVB as second favourites once again, and they will hope to push FC Bayern a little closer next season. Schlotterbeck will be a key player in that aim.
Everybody loves Nkunku
In other Bundesliga 2022 news, speculation is mounting that RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku is being tracked by a host of top European clubs. He made his first competitive start for France against Croatia in a Nations League draw on Monday and will hope to star for Les Bleus as they defend their world title in Qatar this year. The 24-year-old has scored 35 goals and provided 20 assists in 51 appearances for Die Roten Bullen and is rated at £50m.
Leipzig will be keen to hold on to their hottest property but that won’t put off the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, FC Bayern and his home club Paris Saint-Germain from tracking the player. He played 78 games for PSG, scoring 11 goals before making his move to the Bundesliga, where he has quickly become one of the best strikers in the world. Chelsea might fancy their chances of luring Nkunku to London as head coach Thomas Tuchel managed him at PSG, but he can take his pick and he may prefer a move to France, or to stay in the Bundesliga with Leipzig where he is worshipped by the fans.
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