Cologne expects competition from Özcan: “There will certainly be desires”
Anyone who wants to know what sporting status Salih Özcan now has at 1. FC Köln should take the weekend’s game against Mainz 05 as a prime example. The substitution of the midfielder in the 58th minute brought a completely different dynamic to the Domstadt team, who, thanks to Özcan’s performance, who set up a goal directly, was able to convert the 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 win.
But not only in Cologne do those responsible know about the qualities of the 24-year-old, who has since been promoted to the Turkish national team. “Other clubs know how good he is on the road. There will definitely be desires. Salih has earned a lot of respect in the league.”quotes the Cologne ‘Express’ Thomas Kessler, Head of the Licensed Players Division.
extension with a vengeance
Özcan’s contract expires in 2023. The Bundesliga club wants to avoid a forced sale in the summer or a free transfer in the following year and is therefore aiming for an extension. “It is clear that we are in contact with Salih. We will do everything we can to show him something that will help him in the future and take him to a higher level.”explains Kessler.
In some areas, Özcan is already among the best in Europe. According to the statistics website ‘fbref.com’, the 1.82-metre-tall right-footed player is among the top three percent of all midfielders in the top five European leagues in terms of balls intercepted per 90 minutes.
Future figurehead
“Salih has every opportunity to become a cornerstone of the team and a face of the club here. He embodies an awful lot of what makes FC so special.”enthuses Kessler.
With regard to the contract talks, former Bundesliga keeper Özcan passes the ball: “Salih has to be clear about what he wants for his future. I wish he would think about it. In the end it’s only up to him.”