When Hamburg sent Pierre-Michel Lasogga to Leeds United in the summer window there was a clear feeling of ‘good riddance’.
Lasogga had been told he’d play no part at HSV this season and would be in the stands unless he agreed to leave the club. Wanting to get the player’s high wages, or least some of them, off their accounts, the Bundesliga club forced the striker out.
There were then comments from a Hamburg investor about Lasogga’s signing being the worst deal of the century for HSV, and any time time the striker hit a blip at Leeds there was almost mockery from German fans when it was covered in the media there.
Now things are very different.
Lasogga has ten goals and three assists in 21 Championship games, five of those appearances coming as a substitute. Three goals in as many games has seen the striker’s form covered in Germany, and this time it’s regret rather than mockery coming through.
Die Welt point out Hamburg have only scored 18 league goals in total this season. Hamburger Abendblatt say Lasogga has scored more goals in 2018 than all Hamburg players combined, and they point out that, despite some club struggles recently, Leeds fans love him.
The German newspaper even embedded a video of Leeds fans singing a chant for the player.
It must hurt in Hamburg. Not just because they forced Lasogga out on loan, because he had a poor last campaign, but because they were so dismissive of him… both club and fans.
Lasogga will return to Hamburg in the summer, say Die Welt, but what happens then is completely open. A few more goals between now and the end of the season, and the 26 year old will not only have Leeds United likely trying to sign him permanently, but also other clubs.
