From hell to paradise, the 2022/2023 season sounds like an air of deja vu. Indeed during the 2021/2022 season, RB Leipzig had started the exercise badly which had cost the head of Jesse Marsch. It was then that Domenico Tedesco landed and won the German Cup while allowing the Saxons to finish in the qualifying places in the Champions League. A fine performance that required confirmation. However, the German technician was unable to reproduce the same performance. A sluggish, even chaotic start to the season, and it was Marco Rose who took over on the bench. Reporting to this formation, the former Borussia Dortmund player was able to bring RB Leipzig back to the podium and offered himself the luxury of also winning the German Cup. This time, Leipzig is warned and it will quickly have to be competitive under penalty of paying for the ignition delay. Nevertheless, the conditions will not be optimal for the recovery despite a transfer window carried out with a lot of anticipation.
Leipzig could recover around €250m
Forced to downsize this summer to meet the requirements of Financial Fair Play, RB Leipzig was forced to shed its best elements. In addition, his Austrian midfielder Konrad Laimer joined Bayern Munich freely and therefore did not bring back a single penny. While less and less used elements like Yussuf Poulsen, Lukas Klostermann or Amadou Haidara are considered transferable. Players on loan this season such as Ilaix Moriba (FC Valence), Alexander Sörloth (Real Sociedad) and Angeliño (Hoffenheim) are also seen as possible sales. So far, three starts have made money. If the doorman Josep Martinez (25) brought back only 3.5 million euros for his transfer to Genoa, Leipzig could count on two major sales. Thus, Christopher Nkunku (25) went to Chelsea against 60 million euros in the account of a long-term tied transfer (last winter).
He is not the only one to have left Saxony since the Hungarian attacking midfielder has also packed his bags for Perfide Albion. His release clause set at 70 million euros did not scare Liverpool, who did not hesitate to match this amount. With already 133.5 million euros collected, RB Leipzig can breathe. Especially since a third major player of the club could bring back a nice check again. Thus, Manchester City is still in the process of recruiting Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol (21) Author of an XXL season, he is estimated at nearly 110 million euros by his club, which has confirmed discussions between the different parties. : “Gvardiol definitely wants to move to the Sky Blues. Josko and his advisers have told us of their wish to move to Manchester City. We are in talks with Manchester. There is nothing more to say at this time” If ever this file goes to the end and that the requirements of Leipzig are met, this sum added to the 133.5 million euros already collected could raise the note to nearly 250 million euros. What also have fun in terms of arrivals.
Leipzig also put their hands in their pockets
In this sense too, RB Leipzig has been very active. With the exception of goalkeeper Leopold Zingerle (29) who arrived free from Paderborn, two 100% Red Bull transfers have already been signed at the start and in the middle of the season. First of all, the young Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško (20 years old) who arrives from Salzburg against 24 million euros. His midfielder friend Nicolas Seiwald (22) was quick to follow him for 20 million euros. Two reinforcements of weight and well felt since they replace numerically Christopher Nkunku and Konrad Laimer. Leipzig has also been loaned Fábio Carvalho (20) from Liverpool and recruited Christoph Baumgartner (23) to take over from Dominik Szoboszlai. The latter will have cost 24 million euros to leave TSG Hoffenheim. With already 68 million euros spent, it is not without saying that RB Leipzig will still put the means to remain competitive. Besides, it’s clearly not over since the German club still has tracks for next season. Already, Sky Sports Germany reported an offer of 20 million euros for Lutsharel Geertruida (22) the right side of Feyenoord. If the Dutch hope between 25 and 30 million euros, this file remains well underway.
Another targeted sector, the central defense where it will be necessary to compensate for the imminent loss of Josko Gvardiol, but also Abdou Diallo who returned to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his loan. Young player from the Ile-de-France club, El Chadaille Bitshiabu (18), could take him the opposite way and arrive in Germany. A solution for the long term therefore and other players are in the sights to strengthen the team directly. This is the case of Croatian defender Josip Šutalo (23) already followed last summer and who could land for a sum of around 20 million euros. We have also announced an imminent agreement between RB Leipzig and Dinamo Zagreb. This is also the case of Castello Lukeba (20 years old) the young nugget of Olympique Lyonnais. An offer in excess of 30 million euros will soon arrive on the Rhône side, as we have announced to you. Another file, this time offensive with Loïs Openda (23 years old). An offer of almost 40 million euros will arrive as we have explained to you. This is close to the sum between 45 and 50 M€ claimed by the Racing Club de Lens. If we also count Dani Olmo’s extension until June 2027, we can therefore expect a competitive Leipzig team for next season. However, the site will be huge with many players to integrate into the team. Marco Rose will have his work cut out for him.
