Key points
- Tom Moustier wants to leave Rot-Weiss Essen for Portugal.
- The search for a replacement is ongoing. Several names are being traded.
Rot-Weiss Essen still have eight days to prepare for the start of the second half of the season next Saturday at TSV 1860 Munich, where coach Uwe Koschinat’s team wants to underline their ambitions in the promotion race. Currently only the goal difference separates RWE from third place in the relegation zone and the direct promotion places are only one point away, so the 2nd Bundesliga is anything but a utopian goal.
Of course, people on Hafenstrasse also know that there is probably no team this season that will pull away early and give the competition no chance. Accordingly, RWE wants to do everything in its power to make it into the lower house and has already brought in two new signings, attacker Danny Schmidt, on loan from Fortuna Düsseldorf, and central defender Ben Hüning from Borussia Dortmund II, who have the potential to become immediate reinforcements.
Tom Moustier will join Estrela Amadora
However, the winter planning on Hafenstrasse has not yet been completed. The signing of a top-class ten-man is still in the room, although RWE has already made a very clear denial from Energie Cottbus regarding Tolcay Cigerci and Berkan Taz will not be leaving SC Verl in the winter as things stand.
While the search continues in the tenth position, a row behind it is threatened by a construction site. After Luca Bazzoli was loaned out to SSV Ulm and because Klaus Gjasula missed the game in Munich due to suspension, coach Koschinat doesn’t have many alternatives in the six position at the start of the year. But with Tom Moustier, another top performer is now threatening to disappear. The 23-year-old Frenchman has an offer from Estrela Amadora from Portugal’s first division. Moustier sees this offer as a great opportunity and would therefore like to move.
RWE is generally willing to talk, but would like to keep Moustier, who is under contract until 2027, at least until the summer. If talks in this direction do not go as hoped, Estrela Amadora would have to make an initial offer, which according to the “WAZ” should be less than 300,000 euros, but still have to improve it.
A meeting with Vinko Sapina
In the event that Moustier breaks camp in Essen, a new six would certainly come in return. In this context, those responsible at RWE have already put their feelers out in different directions. This week there was a conversation with ex-captain Vinko Sapina, who is also in training camp with Dynamo Dresden in Turkey. However, a return of the 30-year-old, who moved to Dresden in the summer of 2024, is considered unlikely.
According to information from “WAZ”, the focus should be on Tim Civeja, who has been trading for a long time but does not want to leave 1. FC Saarbrücken in the winter and is speculating on a free summer move to the 2nd Bundesliga, as well as Tom Baack. The 26-year-old has only played a minor role at 1. FC Nürnberg since his move from SC Verl to Franconia before the season and has been an issue in Essen in the past. Nuremberg, however, should continue to plan with Baack despite only six appearances in the preliminary round.
