With Düsseldorf 13th in the 2.Bundesliga, they have decided to part ways with Daniel Thioune after three and a half years together. Kicker reports that the reason for this is that the club believe he is unable to turn the club’s current situation around. 

During his time, Thioune made Fortuna a top half 2.Bundesliga side, and they came close to promotion in 2024 when they threw away a 3-0 lead to lose on penalties to Bochum in the Relegation Playoff. 

Now, Düsseldorf are set to appoint Anfang as their new head coach. He was previously a player for Fortuna between 2006 and 2008 after joining from Duisburg on a free transfer. 

Anfang was last in charge of Kaiserslautern, before he was dismissed with the club within touching distance of the promotion places. 

The 51-year-old’s coaching history has seen him take charge of 1.FC Köln, Darmstadt, Werder Bremen, Dynamo Dresden, and FCK.

Anfang’s time at Bremen was cut short due to a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate so he could attend carnival in the Domstadt. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan

Breithaupt just returned from a loan stint in the German second division with 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Despite impressing for the Pfälzer Red Devils early on last spring, the 23-year-old ultimately failed to retain a starting place. Düsseldorf – hopeful of building a team comprised of players with top flight experience – were nevertheless pleased to welcome him.

Breithaupt himself is hopeful of reviving his career.

“Fortuna is a club with big ambitions,” Breithaupt noted in a club press released. “That’s why I’m very happy to be here now and want to make the most my time. I’m the type of player who likes to have the ball at my feet and want to help the team as a link between defense and attack.”

GGFN | Peter Weis

Muslija never found his footing with Freiburg after joining the Breisgauer on a €1m transfer from Paderborn during the January 2024 transfer window. In the past 18 months, the 30-times-capped Kosovo international only logged 275 minutes of action under SCF head coaches Christian Streich and Julian Schuster.

Muslija did bring with him some Bundesliga experience (and a pair of top flight goals) from his time spent with Hannover 96 during the 2018/19 season, but couldn’t replicate his success this time. The 27-year-old returns to the second division on a season-long-loan with Fortuna Düsseldorf. 

Düsseldorf have been proactive in attracting players with top division experience this summer and – with the addition of Muslija – procured a serviceable replacement for departed attacking midfielder Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson. Kicker and other German media outlets confirm the existence of a purchase option as part of the deal. 

Augsburg’s Henri Koudoussou, meanwhile, heads to 2. Bundesliga outfit FC Nürnberg without a purchase option. As reported earlier, Augsburg have no plans on giving the 25-year-old talent up. The Fuggerstädter simply wish to ensure that the wingback they recently signed to a lucrative contract extension receives more playing time. 

In the case of Lisztes, the player Eintracht once heavily recruited has been unable to make his Bundesliga debut due to injury. Frankfurt remained very keen on the talented attacking midfielder. The RheinMainAdler paid Ferencvárosi €6m to secure his services in the summer of 2023, agreeing that he would not join up with the SGE until the summer preceding the 2024/25 season. 

Persistent muscular issues unfortunately meant the Lisztes only made three appearances for the Eintracht reserves last year. Lisztes had hoped to follow in the footsteps of his father of the same name. The senior Listztes featured for ten years in the German top flight, representing VfB Stuttgart, Werder Bremen, and Borussia Mönchengladbach between 1996 and 2006.

“Krisztián Lisztes has great potential, which he has unfortunately not been able to show in his first year with us,” Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung ruefully noted in a club statement. “We are convinced that the loan to his home club will help him gain playing experience and further his development.”

“When the opportunity arose to sign Henri [Koudossou] for the club, we were determined to take it,” Nürnberg sporting director Joti Chatzialexiou said of his new signing. “The signing not only further increases competition for places in this position, but also gives us additional flexibility, as Henri can play on both the right and left sides.” 

“With his creativity, goal-scoring threat and excellent set pieces, Flo [Muslija] brings important skills that will definitely enrich our attacking play,” Fortuna sporting director Christian Weber said of his new signing. “We are delighted that we were able to convince him to make the move to the 2nd division to prove his class once again and help us achieve our goals.”

GGFN | Peter Weis

Neuhaus scored six league goals and collected three assists for Friedhelm Funkel’s Düsseldorf that year. Famously, Neuhaus scored the opening goal and assisted on the dramatic match-winner against Dynamo Dresden on the final matchday of the season. Neuhaus served as Düsseldorf’s “promotion hero” in the 1-2 away win. 

Neuhaus remains a Gladbach pariah after a controversial video leaked this past summer showed him mocking BMG sporting director Roland Virkus. Despite the fracture that the ten-times-capped German international’s training demotion with the Gladbach U23s is drawing to a close soon, Neuhaus likely has no future with his top flight side. 

Düsseldorf have been working in the German second division since getting relegated at the end of the 2019/20 campaign. The famed Westphalian “punk rock club” have managed to remain in the promotion hunt over the last five seasons, most famously missing out in the promotion-relegation playoffs against Bochum at the end of the 2023/24 cycle. 

Allofs’ stated desire to build a squad of experiences Bundesliga professionals this summer has already seen the club bring in fullback Christopher Lenz (Hoffenheim), central defender Kenneth Schmidt (Freiburg), and keeper Marcel Lotka (Borussia Dortmund). Allofs confirmed his club’s interest in Neuhaus, telling a local paper that they had already inquired multiple times. 

“It’s true that we knocked on their [Gladbach’s] door last year,” Allofs told the Rheinische Post. “It would be silly not to do so, because Flo is someone who has already been at Fortuna. .If there is an opportunity to sign him, you shouldn’t miss out on at least looking into it. We do that from time to time.

“The latest speculation still has a lot to do with what’s happened recently,” Allofs nevertheless emphasized. “As long as there’s been no final decision about his situation, we’ll keep this option open as a ‘desirable solution.‘”

Neuhaus remains under contract with Gladbach until 2027 and maintains an estimated market value of €3.5m. A loan deal remains an option provided Gladbach take at least some responsibility for Neuhaus’ €4m salary. Neuhaus has also been linked with an Augsburg switch this summer.

GGFN | Peter Weis

Incredible atmospheres and fan culture

Until 1. FC Köln and Hamburg were promoted at the end of last season, the 2. Bundesliga for several years boasted more former German champions than the top flight. Storied clubs steeped in tradition and backed by huge followings – not just across Germany but around the world – find themselves languishing below their standards of decades gone by. All this makes for some incredible atmospheres that must be seen to be believed. And when you factor in the cost of a matchday ticket and beer, not to mention the free transport to the game, then no country rivals Germany.

It’s impossible to predict

For much of last season, 10 clubs were firmly in the promotion race until the final weeks, with the eventual top nine clubs separated by just 10 points. Elversberg upset the apple cart by finishing third and making it to the relegation playoff, just one point behind HSV. The league is simply impossible to predict, anyone can beat anyone and remains fiercely tight throughout. With a host of sides missing out on Bundesliga promotion last season, and the additions of relegated VfL Bochum and Holstein Kiel, along with 3. Liga newcomers Dynamo Dresden and none other than DFB Pokal finalists Arminia Bielefeld, the upcoming campaign promises to be even more unpredictable than the last.

A league of sleeping giants and big names

FC Köln and HSV may have earned promotion back into the top flight – the latter after a seven-year absence – but there are still a number of sleeping giants in the 2. Bundesliga. 1. FC Nürnberg, a nine-time German champion, have found themselves languishing in the second division since 2019. 1. FC Kaiserslautern – who won the Bundesliga in 1998 – found themselves in the 3. Liga in 2022 but since returned and narrowly missed out on the promotion playoff. Schalke 04 and Hertha Berlin are two clubs steeped in history with exceptional fanbases, but find themselves stuck in the second division while Hannover will also be eager to return to the Bundesliga under Christian Titz. And when it comes to big names, there are few bigger than Miroslav Klose in German football, who coaches FC Nürnberg in what is his first professional coaching job.

GGFN | Harry Good 

Neuhaus has been training with Gladbach’s U23s this pre-season as punishment for what’s been labelled as the Mallorca scandal. During the summer, a video emerged of Neuhaus criticising sporting director Roland Virkus. 

On the decision to fine and punish Neuhaus, club CEO Stefan Stegemann said: 

“Florian Neuhaus’ behaviour and statements are damaging to the club and unacceptable. His words have harmed the club and deeply disappointed those involved. This is incompatible with the values of the club.”

It’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Neuhaus will return to the first team and be able to fix the trust that has been broken. 

With this, Fortuna Düsseldorf have their eyes set on an ambitious transfer in order to give Neuhaus a new start in the second division. 

However, the biggest hurdle is the player’s current salary. Neuhaus earns around €4m a year at Gladbach, a fee which could be too much for Düsseldorf. However, given the situation, it’s possible for all parties to come to a new agreement. 

What’s more, Neuhaus is already familiar with Düsseldorf, having spent a season on loan there in 2017/18. 

As per TransferMarkt, Neuhaus is worth just €3.5m – A rarity that a player’s transfer fee is lower than his yearly wage. 

GGFN | Jamie Allen

Kicker and Sport Bild both report that Bremen will receive a sum of approximately €2.5m for the player they once acquired on a free. The purchase option will be automatically triggered when Kownacki reaches a certain number of appearances. This should pose no problem for the 28-year-old, who has still been able to thrive at the 2. Bundesliga level. 

From Hertha’s perspective, Kownacki’s signing heralds the end of rumors linking Hoffenheim striker Mërgim Berisha with a move to Charlottenburg. Kicker confirmed yesterday that the German capital city club had only tepid interest in the former German international and hadn’t tendered a concrete offer. Kownacki scored 13 2. Bundesliga goals for Düsseldorf last season. 

In terms of what the transaction means for Bremen, the Hanseaten clearly had no faith in Kownacki anymore despite the fact that an injury to Marvin Ducksch leaves them in dire need of a number nine. The burning question as to how Bremen plan to cope with this problem yields a rather interesting rumor. 

The club’s reliable Deichstube fan-site reports that Werder are actually interested in acquiring RB Leipzig’s André Silva on a permanent basis. The former Eintracht Frankfurt star came nowhere close to meeting expectations during his recent Bremen loan stint, but the north Germans may still want him. 

Silva scored one goal (a penalty) in seven appearances for Ole Werner’s SV last spring. The Portuguese international also missed from the penalty spot and only logged six minutes as a sub in Bremen’s final eight league fixtures of the season.

It may nevertheless be the case that a club eager to make excuses for Silva might be prepared to make more. If nothing else, Silva could be procured on the cheap. The one-time €45m-valued player is only valued at €4m today. 

Like another RB Leipzig striker who departed the Saxons this summer, Yussuf Poulsen, Silva must be willing to take a significant pay cut in order to potentially gain playing time. Salary issues have hampered Leipzig’s attempts to move their expensive transfer flop in the past. 

GGFN | Peter Weis

Kownacki scored 13 goals and registered seven assists for Fortuna in the German second division last year. Despite this, Kownacki’s Bundesliga club still doesn’t consider him a serious option for the attack this year; not even after lead striker Marvin Ducksch incurred a serious injury.

A player possessing undoubted potential, Kownacki continues to struggle realizing it. Kownacki scored four Bundesliga goals whilst representing Düsseldorf in the first division during the 2018/19 campaign.

He’s not scored in the German top flight since. Kownacki went without a tally in the top flight during Düsseldorf’s 2019/20 relegation campaign. He also couldn’t score for Bremen in 22 Bundesliga deployments during the 2023/24 season.

Kownacki’s estimated market value plummeted from his career high of €9m in 2019 to a Nadir of €1.5m in 2022. Over the last three years, however, the seven-times-capped international has raised his value back up to €2.5m.

Sport Bild claims that Werder are seeking a transfer fee of €3.5m from the Charlottenburger. Naturally, Hertha would be more amenable to a loan deal with modest and reasonable fees attached. 

GGFN | Peter Weis

Back in March, Bologna and Torino both enquired about signing Siebert, who had no intention of leaving at the time. With a reported release clause of around €6m, that could now change after Fortuna Düsseldorf missed out on promotion to the Bundesliga. Had F95 been promoted to the top flight, the 23-year-old’s exit clause would have been €9m. However, born in the city, the 23-year-old is comfortable at the club and enjoys a good relationship with Daniel Thioune.

Siebert, who has a market value of €4m per Transfermarkt, came through the club’s youth ranks and has played 51 games across all competitions since making his debut in 2020.

As reported by Fussball Transfers, Siebert also has interest from QPR, Stoke City and Watford. The defender was also a part of the Germany U21 squad that lost to England in the UEFA European U21 Championship in June.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder

Lotka found himself at the center of a legal controversy near the end of the 2021/22 campaign. The Duisburg-native unexpectedly found himself elevated to a starting role at Hertha in late February by then Hertha head coach Tayfun Korkut. Just three days after making his Bundesliga debut, Lotka opted to sign on with Dortmund for the next season on March 1st, 2022. 

Lotka presumably had the right to join Dortmund on free after the season due to the fact that his contract was due to expire. Hertha, however, opted to take advantage of a special clause in their academy player’s contract that enabled them to automatically extend his contract provided they pulled the clause prior to April 30th, 2022. 

Lotka remained the Hertha number one under both Korkut and later installed head coach Felix Magath. He started the final ten fixtures of the campaign between matchdays 24 and 34 before Magath turned to Danish keeper Oliver Christensen in the promotion-relegation playoffs against Hamburger SV.

The Berlin-based club managed to avoid relegation that year, and Hertha – after threatening legal action – allowed Lotka to move to Dortmund on May 30th, 2022. Lotka was gifted the opportunity to train with Edin Terzic’s first team in 2022/23. He occasionally made the matchday squad, but was never used. 

Over the past three years, Lotka made 84 appearances for BVB II in the 3. Liga. Lotka (24) will compete with captain Florian Kastenmeier and deputy Florian Schock for playing time at F95.

“After three years in Dortmund, it felt like the right time to start a new chapter in my career,” Lotka noted in a Düsseldorf-released statement. “The talks with the club officials and the prospects in Düsseldorf convinced me completely.”

“Our goal was to strengthen the competition for the position between the posts with another strong goalkeeper,” Fortuna’s Director of Sport and Communication, Klaus Allofs added. “Marcel Lotka meets our criteria. He is a goalkeeper with ambition, but also an absolute team player who fits perfectly into our goalkeeping team both in terms of character and athleticism.”

GGFN | Peter Weis