In a Tuesday feature on big clubs facing relegation, Bild say Hamburg will have to offload their highest earners next summer if they are relegated, which would include Leeds United loanee Pierre-Michel Lasogga.
The German club are currently 16th in the table, just above Werder Bremen and FC Koln.
As explained by the German newspaper, HSV have the worst financial situation of the three side, having overspent for years and see little for their money.
The Bundesliga side recently announced another loss for the last financial year, with the club’s overall debt now exceeding €100m. If they finally go down this season, Bild say Lasogga would ‘become unaffordable and be gone’.
The striker’s wages had already been weighing heavily on HSV anyway, hence him being loaned out to Leeds United for the season.
Leeds United are contributing a percentage to Lasogga’s wage, which has helped HSV get closer to balancing their books, although it clearly hasn’t solved anywhere near all the problems.
It’s unlikely Leeds United would be able to offer him the same wage he currently receives at his parent club if they remain in the Championship, but with the club in the mix for promotion it would be a possibility if they were a Premier League side next season.
With Lasogga having another year on his Hamburg contract after this season, the likeliest outcome is the 25 year old signs a 4 or 5 year deal elsewhere, which takes into account his extra year of inflated salary, but which doesn’t guarantee him the same over the whole period.
It remains to be seen if Leeds United will be looking to make his move permanent next summer, but it’s increasingly clear Hamburg will likely be keen on a sale. If they do drop down to Bundesliga 2, there’s every chance they’ll be so keen to offload Lasogga that he could move for free.
