A building block for FC Germany

D he hunted stubbornly silent. And the more Fiete Arp does not comment on its future, the more rumors about 18-year-old HSV attackers are weird. When the teenager was recently introduced in the second division training camp in Austria, not in the group photo with colleagues on a paintball trip, quickly reported an online sports portal that Arp had gone to Munich for a medical examination. It was said that he had even been spotted there in the subway.

As soon as the message arrived, it was quickly refuted. The reason for the abstinence of the attacker to the extent of the team spirit: He had to meet with the HSV Sports Director, Ralf Becker, at the headquarters of the team in Bad Erlach. The young professional born in Bad Segeberg is currently facing a lot of hype around him. The fact is that Arp, who has been playing for the HSV since the U11, has decided not to extend his one – year contract and will likely be transferred to FC Bayern Munich no later than summer 2019. The record champion attracts with a financially attractive package. According to "Bild" Arp should sign at least four seasons and collect an annual salary of five million euros. Not a bad salary for a prospect who has just given 845 minutes of play in the highest German football clbad.

It is not known when the change takes place. Given that the HSV, which is economically less powerful, can hardly afford to let the best talent pull a free transfer next summer, many are talking about an immediate transfer. However, Bayern's latest bid is expected to be 2.5 million euros, HSV's demand significantly higher. If Munich is ready to improve its offer, Arp should probably leave immediately. HSV and Arp are both trying to find a quick fix. The conversations take place behind the scenes.

The newcomer could imagine another year in the second division. For Christian Titz, HSV coach, he has a close relationship of trust. In order to mature further, a stay at Volkspark from the point of view of Arp would be a wise option. A model according to which Munich now commit the offensive gem now and then give HSV a year, has now been rejected, however. For the Northern Germans, there is only in this transfer period the possibility of obtaining a fee for their greatest new hope, the contract ends on June 30, 2019.

The HSV and Arp are so to speak in a transferzwickmühle. The Munich, on the other hand, are in a much more comfortable bargaining position. In poker for the attacker, they hold all the badets in the hand. No hurry for Bayern. Whatever the case may be, Arp would not be planned as an immediate working group, but as an investment in the future. With his commitment, the industry leader mainly responds to the club's claim that the best German players should play in Munich. President Uli Hoeneß's dream of "FC Germany" is already widely realized: more than half of the national team is playing for his club.

Arp would be a promise that it stays that way. In addition, one would avoid with a transfer that the national competition, especially Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig or Schalke 04, a German player of this caliber angels. Bayern had missed a commitment once to Timo Werner. Instead of Säbener Straße, the striker moved from Stuttgart to Leipzig in 2016. A big mistake, probably costly, especially since Werners' market value has exploded for the last time and that it has not been possible. it should not be less than 75 million euros – it cost only 14 million. This too should not be repeated in the case of Arp.

First buy and secure – then lend. As a plan could act in the case of Serge Gnabry serve. Committed to a transfer of 15 million euros from Werder Bremen a year ago, the Munich team immediately parked the car from the left wing for a season in Hoffenheim. A market that has opened. Gnabry became the leader and with ten goals and seven badists in 22 league games played a crucial role in helping the Kraichgauer to qualify as third in the table directly for the Champions League. Arrived at maturity abroad, Gnabry is now facing competition in all of the stars of Munich

A leap that would be too big for Arp right now. After his debut in the Bundesliga on 30 September 2017, while he was replacing the Werder Bremen at Nordderby in added time, the hype around Arp in Hamburg really took off. In his next two missions, the blond boy against Berlin (1: 2) and Stuttgart (3: 1) hits one. Quickly focused the hopes of HSV fans in the relegation battle on Arp. Naturally, Schleswig-Holsteiner could not meet the exaggerated expectations. The initial joy came to him visibly lost. At the turn of the year, Arp said on the occasion of his 18th birthday: "Save the HSV alone is utopian. He was right.

In the second half of the season, Arp has rarely shown its potential. To the burden of hopes in the ultimately unsuccessful struggle for the fate of the Abitur clbad the stress has come. Arp shuttled between the school office and the square. Incidentally, he also did his driver's license. A balance game that cost a lot of strength – and one of the reasons was the lean balance in the second half of the season. Only two times Arp was in the starting lineup. In his total of nine missions, he scored neither a shot nor a model.

In the future, the focus will again be fully on football. A release, as admitted Arp early in the summer preparation during a rare media round: "It's very nice for the head and body, if we can focus on one thing He did not comment on Bavaria. The chances of Arp playing regularly would be very low. A departure of Robert Lewandowski ready to change this summer is unlikely, if possible. So Arp could be Joker after all. Alternatively, the missions would be conceivable for those under 23 in the Regionalliga. More likely, however, is a loan.

The involvement of Arp would be particularly important to sports director Hasan Salihamidzic to show that he gets the players he wants and the future belongs. Bavaria is currently very aggressive in the field of youth and is recruiting many talents. The built for nearly 100 million euros campus should bear fruit. Arp is considered a medium and long-term investment. Bayern must think beyond this season because it is about to change. In one year, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry will probably stop two veterans who have shaped the face of Bayern for years. Arp will therefore also play an important role in rejuvenating the team of the new FCB coach, Nico Kovac

Although the Arp staff at Bayern is conceived in perspective, it has for HSV a fundamental importance for the present. First, limbo seems to inhibit the attacker. In previous tests, he could not convince. Although he met four times in a loose 18: 0 against Büdelsdorfer sixth level TSV to start in preparation. However, he then missed a penalty against TuS Dbadendorf (10: 0). And he also remained discreet against CSKA Moscow (1-0) and Rapid Vienna (2-1).

In addition, the unexplained future of the coveted national junior player paralyzes the plans of the squad of the drop-off. If Arp leaves, there is a strong need for action in the foreground. After the departure of Bobby Wood to Hannover 96 Titz in the attack, only Arp Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Manuel Wintzheimer are available as an option. "If we did not have three players in the team, we would have one more," the HSV coach said. It's time to make a decision. In the interest of all concerned.