Transfer News - The Exits

By: Brian | June 2nd, 2008

The Exits

The 07/08 Bundesliga season has been in the can for a few weeks now and Bremen transfer rumors are beginning to trickle into the Werder Offside. First up, the exits.

The sad saga of Ivan Klasnic in green and white is at an end. A falling out with team doctors caps the end of a terrific career, including spearheading the attack during the double winning season of 03/04. But where to? The possible list of suitors appear to be clubs in the exotic and romantic locales of Istanbul, Seville and…um…Wigan.

A few weeks ago, Turkish media reported that Klasnic had already agreed in principal to a two year deal with Besiktas. Nothing has surfaced since then and, as no one at the Werder Offside speaks Turkish, we’re unable to dig into this one any further. We also know next to nothing about the club. Let’s hope however that he takes a deep breath, picks up the phone and calls his old strike partner Ailton Goncalves da Silva, the last ex-Werder player to sign for the Turkish club. After a steady diet consisting strictly of kebabs, Ailton waddled out of Istanbul after a year, bouncing around to various clubs, mostly on loan. Sure, they’re entirely different players and personalities, but one cannot be too careful. Oh, and he should call Lincoln too.

Apparently Wigan skipper Steve Bruce dispatched scouts from the JJB to Bremen to take in the Hannover match. They would’ve seen Ivan score a goal in the 6-1 thrashing and no doubt would’ve liked what they saw. However, given that what they usually see is Emile Heskey and Marlon King, Klasnic must’ve seemed quite brilliant.

The most recent and perhaps strongest rumor to date would be the Klasnic to Real Betis murmurs. The possibility has popped up in numerous media outlets, baseless rumor mongering blogs and in multiple conversations over tapas. Ivan has thankfully come out and made everyone’s job much, much easier saying:

“I would like to play for Betis, however, I am not the one calling the shots. There is interest in other leagues, also my wish is to play for a Spanish club. I’m still waiting for an invite from Sevilla. If this doesn’t happen, then I will have plan B.”

And a quick note on the man’s personal website confirms the same. Considering he would like a new home confirmed before the Euros kick off in a matter of days, looks like Betis has the momentum. And while he’s calling Ailton about disasterous transfers, might as well give David Odonkor a ring.

Oh, and Dortmund and Hertha are being reported as interested, but we put the odds of a move within the Bundesliga at Never:1. Well, maybe Hoffenheim.

Looks like Pierre Wome found someone to take on his slowly healing knee and slowly deteriorating game. That someone would be Cologne. He cost them exactly nothing.

Tim Borowski is moving to Bayern Munich. This item is included here for the sake of thoroughness.

And Diego is going to Arsenal. Or not.