Bochum, the Bundesliga’s last place side officially confirmed their first new January arrival yesterday in the form of Tom Krauß. The 23-year-old’s parent club Mainz 05 prematurely recalled the midfielder from Championship side Luton Town (where he had been a regular) so as to facilitate a return to German football.
In statements accompanying the transaction, administrators from both German clubs as well as the player himself described the move as something everyone involved wanted. At his Friday pre-match press conference, Bochum trainer Dieter Hecking also noted that Krauß would immediately feature in his match-day squad this weekend against Freiburg.
“Tom got the match practice he was hoping for in Luton,” Mainz sporting director Nico Bungert noted in a statement. “He was a key player in the first half of the year and even managed to score a number [two to be precise] of goals. Hence, the loan in England fulfilled everything we had hoped for.
“Now Tom has nevertheless been given the opportunity to return to Germany and play in the Bundesliga again with Bochum,” Bungert’s statement continued. “He thus approached us with the request to be loaned to VfL for the coming months.”
“I’m happy to be back in Germany and closer to my family,” Krauß added. “That’s important to me. I had a long talk with coach Hecking, whom I’ve known since my time in Nuremberg. I’m looking forward to getting to know my new teammates. And, of course, to returning to the Bundesliga.”
Hecking himself reserved praise for his former 1. FCN player in a statement released yesterday. The VfL trainer noted that his former Nürnberg protégée can “help the team immediately“. Hecking went further on Friday, confirming Krauß would feature in his match-day selection.
“[He arrives] having had a week of training [with his EFL side],” Hecking remarked at the presser. “Tom is in great shape and will be part of the squad against Freiburg. He’s an ideal for. There were personal reasons why he wanted to return to Germany. That door is now open.”
Hecking may soon have another new arrival to call upon. Kicker reports that the Revierklub have revived interest in Greek striker Georgios Masouras of Olympiacos. The 31-year-old was frequently linked with a move to Bochum over the summer, with a transfer reportedly not materializing due to lack of interest from the player.
That may soon change.