A year after leaving the Bundesliga, striker max Kruse is on the hunt for a new club after cancelling his contract with Turkish side Fenerbahce. A return to Germany could be on the cards, so just who could/ will take a gamble on the former German international?
Kruse is always good for a headline, be it for leaving €75,000 of poker winnings in the back of a taxi, overdoing it with the Nutella or banging the goals in on the pitch. The 32-year-old has recently been in the headlines for voiding his contract with Fenerbahce after financial problems meant they were unable to pay him.
“I will definitely continue my career. Where will be seen. I am open to many things. It is crucial that the next club suits me” Kruse said in a recent interview with Sky. “If I could choose it, I would see my future in the Bundesliga. I think I am affordable for almost all clubs in the Bundesliga.”
A ‘come and get me’ appeal if ever there was one. Kruse left Werder Bremen last summer after three years at the Weser Stadion saying that he had,”looked at his wallet and wanted to earn a little more.” Prior to that he’d had spells at VfL Wolfsburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Freiburg and St. Pauli. Overall Kruse has scored 74 Bundesliga goals in 250 appearances.
A return to Werder doesn’t seem to be on the cards with Kruse admitting that, “I would never rule out anything, but the probability is not the greatest.” The Grün-Weißen have sorely missed their former forward this season with his replacement Niklas Füllkrug missing almost the entire season injured and the other strikers misfiring.
Eintracht Frankfurt were very interested in signing him when he left Bremen, but it remains to be seen whether the Eagles’ sporting director Fredi Bobic renews his interest in the striker capped 14 times (4 goals) for Germany. Frankfurt signed Bas Dost and Andre Silva instead and Kruse, now a year older, would seem surplus to requirements.
Kruse has been spotted in both Köln and Stuttgart in recent weeks but has explained this away by saying he was there for personal reasons. Both clubs would seem a decent match. The newly promoted Swabians have just lost the experience of Mario Gomez through retirement, so Kruse’s experience could help them in their first year back in the Bundesliga.
Köln looked to have benefited from having Mark Uth in their ranks this season, but he has now returned to Schalke following his loan and it looks unlikely the Geißböcke would be able to afford an outright transfer. Kruse would be free with ‘only’ his wages to cover.
Could a return to Wolfsburg be an option? Wout Weghorst and Daniel Ginczek are similar types, so adding the wily Kruse would add an extra dimension to Oliver Glasner’s attacking arsenal. In the past Turkish Superlig season Kruse netted seven goals and added seven assists in twenty appearances.
Our next lot is ‘Max Kruse’, who will start the bidding?
