Genki Haraguchi is currently more popular than any other midfielder from the 2nd Bundesliga. The hype about the 29-year-old is not as loud as that about striker Serdar Dursun – but the Japanese are even bigger clubs than Darmstadt strikers. The contract with 96 ends in the summer, he has made it clear to the sporting management that he will only stay if Hannover is promoted to the Bundesliga. Nothing will come of it, also because he was not able to constantly meet the expectations himself. Where is the 29-year-old going?
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the image speculated with the interest of FC Schalke 04. After SPORTBUZZER information actually has something to it. However, Schalke will be relegated. Promotion fight? Haraguchi can have that easier in Hanover. 96 is financially more secure than Schalke, the upper salary limit in Hanover (400,000 euros) should only apply in the 2nd division. Haraguchi would earn more in the Bundesliga, here he knows the environment very well and feels more comfortable than ever in his private life. Schalke would not be progress for the Japanese …
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At Fortuna Düsseldorf the case is a little different. Fortuna is also interested in Haraguchi. The Dusseldorf, already on the road with many ex-96ers, know the Japanese from his own promotion year when he was loaner from Hertha. On the Rhine he is still celebrated as a hero of the future. Board member Klaus Allofs wants (and has to) move up with Fortuna in the next season at the latest. What else speaks for Düsseldorf? The metropolis on the Rhine is the city with the largest number of Japanese residents outside of Japan. Incidentally, Gerhard Zuber also knows that: The sports director of the Reds lives in the district of Düsseldorf with most of the Japanese.
Haraguchi stands for what Cologne lacks
Zuber has known Haraguchi pretty much since 2018. The then manager Horst Heldt and his assistant Zuber brought Haraguchi from the World Cup training camp to Hanover. A brilliant action back then, in which trainer André Breitenreiter was also involved. So Zuber snatched him away from the competition, but had the transfer cost something in 96 (4.5 million euros).
Heldt is now head of sports in Cologne – and “Effzeh” is also toying with Haraguchi for the next season. The Cologne are, however, in the greatest danger of relegation and explosion. Trainer Markus Gisdol is in the crossfire, Heldt is in need of explanation. In terms of sport, Haraguchi is exactly what the Cologne team is missing: an elegant playmaker in the midfield who provides surprising moments.
Further information leads to Frankfurt and… Hertha BSC. Fredi Bobic has been following Haraguchi’s path for a long time. The Frankfurters are already having good experiences with the Japanese. Daichi Kamada is currently the top preparer (eleven assists) at Eintracht. Kamada (contract until 2023, market value 16 million euros) is said to want to switch to the Premier League. Haraguchi could be a substitute. And better players would make him better too.
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Genki Haraguchi: Stations of his career in pictures
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Genki Haraguchi started his career with the Urawa Red Diamonds, where he rose from youth to professional in 2008. Here is a picture from 2010.
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Hertha BSC, then with sports director Bobic, would get Haraguchi back for free. Hertha received 4.5 million euros from 96 in the summer of 2018. That would be a coup for Hertha, and financially and athletically more than sensible. It should also be the turn of English first division clubs at Haraguchi, including Southampton FC. There is also great interest in free transfer and finished players in Spain. This is how Getafe is said to have shown the playmaker.
The decision in favor of the Japanese has not yet been made. In the meantime he had settled in Hanover. The feel-good factor plays a major role for him – apart from 96 from personal experience, only Fortuna Düsseldorf and Hertha BSC could offer it.
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