Rob DaviesHannes Wolf is expected to be Swansea City’s third January signing later today, on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Here is the full profile of what looks set to be an exciting signing for Russell Martin’s team.
Started his professional career in Austrian Division 2
The 22 year old made his debut in the second tier playing for RB Salzburg’s second team Liefering at just 16. He would play 35 times, going on to score 7 before being promoted to first team action at Salzburg.
This is where he really started to show the quality he has, netting 23 goals in 68 games over two years before a move to RB’s sister club Leipzig. He didn’t manage to breakthrough initially in Germany – largely due to a bad leg break when he had just arrived, playing for Austria’s U21’s – and was sent out on loan to Monchengladbach in 2020.
He enjoyed more success at Borussia Park, playing 34 times and scoring 7 before having his loan move made permanent to stay in Germany.
This season he has struggled to break into the first team, playing just 7 times with his last appearance coming as a substitute at the end of October.
Wearing the number 11 shirt at Monchengladbach, it has been strongly speculated that he would leave Germany to find more regular football; Celtic had been suggested to hold an interest in a 12m Euro permanent move but nothing materialised.
Wolf has 8 goals in 15 Austria U21 matches and has been knocking on the door for a senior team call up.
What’s been said about him?
When Wolf signed for Leipzig, sporting director Christoph Freund said: “Hannes Wolf is a perfect example of how a young ambitious player can develop at FC Red Bull Salzburg from being in the academy to a cooperation player at FC Liefering and then an important part of our first team.
Upon their capture of the player, Monchengladbach, sporting director Max Eberl said: “Hannes is a versatile player, who already played under our coach Marco Rose in Salzburg and will improve our attacking options.
“He missed a lot of football last season at RB Leipzig due to a long-term injury. We’re pleased that he’s chosen to come here and we hope we will have a lot of success together.”
Must overcome injury problems
There’s no doubt that Wolf has significant quality, but has lost his way since that leg break playing for the national team’s under 21 team. It seems he hasn’t picked up where he left off, recognised as one of Europe’s hottest young talents.
Celtic fans were clamouring on social media to see him arrive in Scotland, with the very reliable (ha!) YouTube videos showing a player full of promise.
Russell Martin will hope that playing with the quality of Piroe, Ntcham and Downes will help him develop and become a real asset for the rest of the season.
Wolf has been struggling with a slight injury recently so it’s unlikely, should be sign, that he would start on Saturday but a place on the bench is possible.
This is a picture of Hannes Wolf, the football manager, not Hannes Wolf, the footballer. Hopefully, Swansea are looking to sign the latter of the two…
Ooops, schoolboy error there Rob, must try harder, 3/10. People do tend to latch on to these things and cause all sorts of issues when your not looking, credibility, integrity all brought in to question before you can say or think ‘ Edit that post’.
Always check, check and check again.