Pierre-Michel Lasogga has four goals in his last five games for Leeds United, which takes his total to 9 goals and three assists for the season. Given that’s from 15 Championship starts, with 5 (usually brief) substitute appearances, it’s not so bad at all.
The Hamburg owned player increasingly feels like he belongs at Elland Road and there’s been a connection with fans from the start. Lasogga recently spoke to the German media about feeling wanted at Leeds United and confident about getting back to his best, and he continues to work on that.
Lasogga’s loan with Leeds expires at the end of the season and there’s no buying option, but HSV will surely be minded to sell, especially if their relegation fears come true. Two teams are relegated automatically from the Bundesliga and Hamburg are currently second to bottom, six points from the next club up, Mainz.
Even if they managed to climb a place they’d then go into a relegation play-off, against whoever finishes third in the second division.
Hamburg look doomed.
The club has never been relegated and Hamburger Morgenpost says fans are terrified of losing ‘that last unique feature’.
But club executive Heribert Bruchhagen has told them it’s not such a big deal: “Frankfurt has gone down four times, Koln five times and Schalke three times. Behold, the clubs still exist. There will be no apocalypse proclaimed in sport, if it comes.”
That’ll go down well.
Lasogga’s wages were unbearable for Hamburg in the top division, and with their financial situation getting worse, and relegation on the horizon, they’re not going to be thrilled to have him back.
Leeds United therefore have an increasing chance of getting the striker on a permanent transfer. Fans would probably prefer that deal to a gamble on Carpi’s Jerry Mbakogu.
