1. FC Cologne: Record transfers are imminent – Van den Berg is coming!

<ol> <li>FC Cologne: Record transfers are imminent – Van den Berg is coming!</li> </ol>

1. FC Köln is currently on everyone's lips because big changes are coming in the transfer period. After an interview with Eckhard Sauren, the FC's vice president, it becomes clear that the club has not only stabilized through sales, but is also ready to invest in new players. This year there is an impressive 23 million euros available, the highest amount since the summer of 2017, when the club invested 34 million euros in new players. Sauren emphasizes that these investments are necessary to keep the team competitive and to offer fans exciting football.

Some fresh faces have already found their way to FC Cologne. Among the new signings are Isak Johannesson (5.5 million euros from Düsseldorf), Ragnar Ache (4.5 million euros from Kaiserslautern) and Sebastian Sebulonsen (2.5 million euros from Bröndby). Marius Bülter came from Hoffenheim for 900,000 euros and Ron-Robert Zieler, who was signed by Hannover for 200,000 euros. However, the list of transfers could soon expand, with FC Köln close to signing Rav van den Berg, a central defender from Middlesbrough, for around €8.5 million. This would make van den Berg the most expensive transfer of the summer.

Rav van den Berg: A sought-after player

Rav van den Berg seems to be a hot potato. The 21-year-old was not in his current club Middlesbrough's squad against Swansea City at the weekend and is expected to travel to Cologne on Tuesday to complete his medical. According to a report in the largest Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf, FC Köln has successfully prevailed against other interested parties such as Feyenoord Rotterdam and Crystal Palace. Plans for a five-year contract until 2030 appear to be within reach. Van den Berg's market value has skyrocketed in the last two years: two years ago Middlesbrough paid just €300,000 to PEC Zwolle for him, now his price could rise to ten million euros.

What's next? FC Cologne is planning even more moves on the transfer market. In addition to van den Berg, Derrick Köhn, a left-back from Turkey, is also a hot topic. Köhn could join the team for around five million euros and would be the second new player in this position after Kristoffer Lund, who was also signed as a left-back. So the sign is pointing to a storm, because if these transfers are successfully completed, the total transfer spending for this summer could double.

Finances in the green

The financial resources available for these transfers come from the club's consolidation and successful sales. In total, FC Köln earned around 13 million euros from the departures of players such as Max Finkgräfe, Damion Downs and Steffen Tigges, from which possible bonuses of up to three million euros could be added. With these resources, the sporting management around coach Lukas Kwasniok can continue to ensure a stronger squad and perhaps even improve a little on the current market position.

The transfer window in Germany is open until September 1st, so a lot can happen in the next few weeks. FC Köln fans can be excited to see how their club will develop in the coming days. The next newcomers could significantly strengthen the team and bring the desired goal of playing in the top third of the table within reach. 1. FC Köln shows that, despite challenges, they are prepared to take ambitious steps and want to play at the top of the Bundesliga.