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Sales Stagnate: RB Leipzig Kicks Off the Season with a Massive Roster

Sales Stagnate: RB Leipzig Kicks Off the Season with a Massive Roster
Martín Demichelis has officially taken over as coach of RB Leipzig. (File photo) / Photo: Jose Breton/AP/dpa
From: DieSachsen News
Demichelis is playing golf with his staff, while the RB pros are working up a sweat during their fitness tests. Now things are officially getting underway with the new coach and his introductory press conference. There are still many unanswered questions.

Martín Demichelis is embarking on his adventure at RB Leipzig amid many uncertainties surrounding the future roster. Of the 25 professional soccer players who underwent performance and health tests over the weekend and are participating in the public training session this Monday, some are expected to be cut from the squad.

None of the World Cup players are even there yet. David Raum, Assan Ouédraogo, Nicolas Seiwald, Yan Diomande, and Lutsharel Geertruida (end of loan) aren’t expected at Cottaweg until late July. Antonio Nusa is not expected to return until early August, following Norway’s elimination by England.

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Who’s leaving, and who’s coming?

In return, the invited fans—mostly young people—will get their first look at new signings Abdoul Koné and Rocco Reitz. It remains to be seen whether Brajan Gruda, who is set to be loaned from Brighton and Hove Albion once again, will take the field. RB has reached an agreement with the 22-year-old, but final details regarding the mandatory buyout clause still need to be worked out with the Premier League club. 

The future of the two French players, Castello Lukeba and El Chadaille Bitshiabu, is also in question. One of the two center backs will definitely have to leave. RB is ramping up the pressure and is reportedly close to signing center back Maxime Esteve. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the 24-year-old Frenchman is set to be pried away from Premier League relegation side FC Burnley for a total financial package of up to 32 million euros. 

Sale Backlog After Diomande’s Decisive Word

RB Leipzig is determined to generate 100 million euros in revenue during this transfer window—without selling superstar Diomande. The Ivorian, who is under contract until the summer of 2030, is expected to stay for another year, according to sporting director Marcel Schäfer. “And we’re not backing down from that,” Schäfer declared. Even if offers from Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain are already at 100 million euros.

Revenue is expected to come primarily from loaned players with no future at RB. Admittedly, the mandatory buyout clause for Loïs Openda alone brought 42.75 million euros from Juventus Turin into RB’s coffers. However, other requests—such as those regarding the long-term loan of Eljif Elmas (SSC Napoli), Arthur Vermeeren (Olympique Marseille), and Geertruida (AFC Sunderland)—were not fulfilled. As a result, it remains unclear who Demichelis—who invited his staff to a golf outing and barbecue to get to know them—can count on for his plans.

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