Football Season Guide

Wolfsburg

In


Sebastiaan Bornauw (def) Koln; Aster Vranckx (mid) KV Mechelen; Lukas Nmecha (att) Manchester City; Felix Nmecha (mid) Manchester City U23’s; Maximilian Philipp (att) Dynamo Moscow; Omar Marmoush (att) St.Pauli - end of loan; William (def) Schalke - end of loan; Marvin Stefaniak (mid) Dynamo Dresden - end of loan; Bryang Kayo (sp) (mid) Viktoria Berlin - on loan;

Out


Felix Klaus (mid) Fortuna Dusseldorf; Tim Siersleben (sp) (def) FC Heidenheim - on loan; Jeffrey Bruma (sp) (def) released; Lino Kasten (sp) (gk) SKN St.Polten - on loan; Elvis Rexhbecaj (mid) VFL Bochum - on loan;

Wolfsburg were excellent under coach Oliver Glasner last season, gaining qualification to the Champions League and holding the second best defensive record in the division. Glasner has since moved on to join Eintracht Frankfurt and this will be seen as a big blow to the side, especially as he was building a strong foundation at the club. Dutchman Mark Van Bommel is the new man in charge and has a tough job on his hands to replicate the success of his predecessor. Wolfsburg have managed to keep hold of their solid defensive unit from last season which is a definite plus point, they have also added young centre-back Bornauw from Koln. Star striker Weghorst is also still on board, along with energetic midfielder’s Arnold and Schlager. Van Bommel appears to be looking at youth as the way forward this season. Lukas and Felix Nmecha are exciting attacking prospects, while Aster Vranckx is one for the future in central midfield. A lot of players have also been recruited up into the first team from the U19’s. The good blend of youth mixed with experience should make Wolfsburg a dangerous prospect again this season, however, strength in depth could be an issue, especially with the added games in Europe now a factor.

Target


Top 4. Wolfsburg were well drilled under Glasner last season, so it could take a bit of time for Van Bommel’s new system to work. The squad certainly have the potential to be in or around the top four again but it will be a lot harder than last term.