Max Finkgräfe before a change? Cologne lets star left-back go!

Max Finkgräfe before a change? Cologne lets star left-back go!

In the last few days there have been a lot of signs at 1. FC Cologne that are making the football world in the cathedral city sit up and take notice. Young star Max Finkgräfe, only 21 years old, is at the center of transfer rumors that concern not only the fans, but also the club management. Loud kicker He had his breakthrough last season in 2023/24, but became a benchwarmer the following season. Injury problems and the decisions of his ex-coach Gerhard Struber ensured that his appearance was reduced to 812 minutes.

Finkgräfe, who only played 138 minutes in the 2024/25 season and was on the bench seven times, has now lost his status as FC Köln's most valuable player. His time as a regular is history, and VfB Stuttgart has already shown interest in him in the winter transfer market reported. Now 1. FC Köln is more open to an early move and could achieve a transfer fee of between 3 and 5 million euros this summer, as Finkgräfe's contract runs until 2026.

Changing thoughts and possibilities

Interest in Finkgräfe is not limited to Stuttgart. In addition to VfB, Eintracht Frankfurt and 1899 Hoffenheim could also be interested in him when looking for a left-back. Finkgräfe would have the best prospects of playing time, especially at Hoffenheim, which would be an important step in his career.

The question is: Will Cologne look for a suitable replacement in the coming weeks? Given that Leart Pacarada is currently the only trained left-back in the squad, Finkgräfe's departure could definitely have an impact on squad planning.

The development of transfer fees in football

The transfer market is more lively than ever in youth football, where players often move to bigger clubs when they are still young. This dynamic leads to expensive transfers that represent the commercialization of football. While the transfer fees for big players are rising rapidly, they are an opportunity for talents like Finkgräfe to establish themselves as a valuable professional. The list of the most expensive transfers shows the immense growth in this area: Neymar moved to PSG in 2017 for an incredible 222 million euros, a record that has long since defined new standards for other transfers, such as em2024 summarizes.

Overall, the development surrounding Max Finkgräfe remains exciting. Those in charge at 1. FC Köln now have to act wisely so as not to let the club's most valuable professional, who is being traded like a promising diamond in the rough, go too carelessly. But for Finkgräfe, a change could also be an opportunity to catapult himself back into the spotlight.