January 2025 Transfer Primer: FC Heidenheim | OneFootball

1. FC Heidenheim

Estimated Autumn Transfer Balance = +€9 million

A successful start to the season for Frank Schmidt's "Ostalbstäbler" fooled few. As impressive as the club's recruitment over the offseason may have been, it never appeared as if new-look Heidenheim drafted in enough new players to adequately compensate for the loss of Tim Kleindienst, Jan-Niklas Beste, and Eren Dinkçi. The departed trio literally accounted for a combined total of 30 league goals last season. The arrival of German-Austrian phenom Paul Wanner offset this slight, but not nearly enough in light of the fact that Conference League qualification placed additional demands on Schmidt's squad.

Even at its fittest, the roster never maintained a sustainable feel to it. Injuries afflicting strikers Marvin Pieringer, Mikkel Kaufmann, and Maximilian Breunig - all occurring around the same time - made matters worse. New Summer signing Leonardo Scienza's troubles adjusting to top flight football coming out of the German third division fuel rumors that the Brazilian wants out in the coming transfer window. USMNT international Lennard Maloney, one of last season's key performers, appears all but certain to bail before the month is out.

The loss to last-placed Bochum on the final league match-day of 2024 sends Heidenheim into the Winter break on a nine-match winless run; a poor record on par with Bundesliga disappointments 1. FC Union Berlin. Obviously, the BaWü borderers maintain no interest in sacking their beloved long-time trainer. One can't conceive of the club firing Schmidt even if the team never wins another match all year. Only if the 50-year-old gaffer himself decides he's had enough will someone else work the touchline.

Dead-Weight Ledger = Vitus Eicher (GK), Paul Tschernuth (GK), Tim Siersleben (CB), Luka Janes (DM), Christopher Negele (LW), Stefan Schimmer (CF)

Board member Holger Sanwald handles most of the personnel decisions for this club while "sporting director" Robert Strauß helps out in a supporting role. The duo look to cut at least one of the surplus keepers after making a smart move to secure a suitable competitor for the inconsistent Kevin Müller. Schmidt rotates heavy between the Bundesliga and UECL fixtures, meaning it's difficult to ascertain which players actually count as dead weight. The list above mostly takes deployments into account. Tim Siersleben serves as the biggest surprise as the former Wolfsburg man once worked as one of Schmid's pillars.

Expiring contracts =  Kevin Müller (GK), Thomas Keller (CB), Lennard Maloney (ADM), Norman Theuerkauf (DM), Jan Schöppner (CM), Denis Thomalla (SS)

Maloney's sale promises a windfall of €5 million or more. Coping with the Berlin-native's loss appears easy enough when one considers Niklas Dorsch's rising form and (ideally) Julian Niehues' long-awaited comeback from injury. Jan Schöppner's value to the team makes re-signing him a priority. Deciding whether or not to renew with the remaining players sitting on working papers set to expire mostly comes down to what leadership contributions club management feels they can offer in the future as none have much market value.

Further Needs =  GK, DM, LW, RW, SS, LS

Heidenheim ran a slight transfer deficit last season, a first division gamble more than counteracted by their financial prudence this year. The added revenue from UECL qualification naturally helps out immensely. Supporters of the club care not a whit about the team's current form. Every home game thus far at that Voith Arena has sold out. Every game last season sold out. The party rages on in this tiny burg. As Schmidt himself once remarked, those who do not join the party will be thrown out.

With money to invest, one can expect signings.

Rumored Links =  Marcel Lotka (GK), Christian Früchtl (GK), Santiago Castaneda (DM), Ryan Naderi (CF), Julian Hettwer (LW)