By Peter Vice
In two separate reports, Germany’s main sporting tabloid claims that FC Bayern München’s current #3 keeper Christian Früchtl and the recently loaned out prospect Ron-Thorben Hoffmann will sign with new clubs soon.
Christian Früchtl. | Photo: Werner100359, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
A report appearing in Sport Bild on Sunday notes that Bayern #3 net-minder Christian Früchtl should be introduced as an Austria Wien player on Monday. The 22-year-old keeper, who has made two starts for the FCB senior team, will sign a three-year-contract with the Violets.
Sport Bild also reports that Bayern have secured a buy-back option on the player. This would fit with statements made a year ago about Früchtl by FCB sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. The club’s chief personnel exec labelled the youngster a “model developmental prospect”.
The club’s respect for Früchtl notwithstanding, his departure will leave Bayern in search of a new #3 for their Bundesliga roster. The German sporting tabloid has been reporting for days that returning Sunderland loanee Ron-Thorben Hoffmann has been in negotiations with recently promoted 2. Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Braunschweig on an outright transfer.
The latest on the 23-year-old who himself helped Sunderland achieve promotion back to the English second division holds that the one-time Germany U18 international will sign a two-year-deal with the Lower Saxon Lions. Bayern will receive a transfer fee of approximately €300,000.