Heidel “We will take our time”

1. FSV Mainz 05’s Bundesliga squad is “almost the ideal size.” Christian Heidel has emphasised many times already that the Zerofivers would have a more than competitive group of players available if the season was to begin now. Mainz’s board member for sport explained at the training camp in Schladming why everyone following Mainz can be completely relaxed during this period of pre-season and why there is no reason to fall into making moves for the sake of it.

After Andy Lucoqui’s contract termination, the Zerofivers are currently on the search for a left-back. Anthony Caci is currently the only available option in that position. Heidel, sporting director Martin Schmidt and head coach Bo Svensson are in agreement about the need to act. “We know fairly precisely what we want to do,” said Heidel. “To do that though, we need the right timing, we haven’t got there yet.” Wait and drink tea, those responsible at Mainz are happy to bide their time. “And we are also prepared in the case that it doesn’t work out.”

“We know fairly precisely what we want to do”

There is still plenty of time left in the transfer window, with the Zerofivers able to sign or sell players until 18:00 CEST on 1st September. Alongside Lucoqui, Mainz would also like to find an exit for Ronaël-Pierre Gabriel. The Frenchman, who joined Mainz from Monaco in 2019, has been loaned out to three different clubs over the last three seasons, most recently at Espanyol. “We told to him to take his time and look around,” said Heidel about the right-back’s situation. Heidel suggested it was a question of waiting and seeing if something came up. “I am really very optimistic about it.” The same goes for Delano Burgzorg, who Heidel described as having various positive qualities alongside his pace, but “he wants to play more, that’s clear. We have to wait and see with him, but there isn’t anyone that we have to sell.”

Two candidates to go out on loan and one “new signing”

Ben Bobzien and Eniss Shabani should hopefully take the next step in their development in the shape of a loan move. The two Mainz academy products do not have much opportunity to gain minutes at Mainz given the current squad situation, with the plan for them to go out on loan to a club from the second or third division in other to gain the necessary match experience. Bobzien has already been out on loan, spending time at newly-promoted second division club SV Elversberg for the second half of last season, while Shabani gained minutes playing for the U23s. “We have to see it there is an opportunity there. I would be really surprised if there isn’t,” said the board member for sport.

“Almost like a new signing”, was the way Heidel described centre-back Maxim Leitsch. “The head coach always says to me how excellently he is training at the moment.” As a result, he is not wasting any thought on a move for the 25-year-old.

Barreiro and Burkardt: “We will find a solution”

Heidel also has trust in Leandro Barreiro and Jonny Burkardt, two players from the Zerofivers’ own academy, who have since gone on to become established Bundesliga players. Both have contracts which run out next year, with Mainz wanting to extend these as soon as possible. Heidel has the feeling that Barreiro knows and appreciates what Mainz 05 has given him. The same goes for Burkardt: “There is a basis of trust that is not being abused by either side. We stand by Jonny and I think that he will also stand by Mainz 05. We will find a solution,” said Heidel.