A decision on Tom Bischof is apparently approaching. Hoffenheim’s sports director Andreas Schicker explains the roadmap.
Last Saturday afternoon started promisingly for Tom Bischof with the presentation of the Fritz Walter Gold Medal by Lars Stindl, assistant coach of the German U20 team, and DFB Vice President Ronny Zimmermann. However, this was followed by a bitter defeat with the 1-2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach and an annoying end to a year in which Bischof finally established himself with the professionals.
“You can tell in the games zero”
The 19-year-old was a permanent fixture under Pellegrino Matarazzo and his successor Christian Ilzer. Which, of course, has not gone unnoticed by the competition. Both FC Bayern and RB Leipzig, VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt are said to have their eye on the playmaker, especially since his contract expires in the summer of 2025, meaning he would be available on a free transfer.
And of course TSG is still hoping to be able to extend Bischof’s contract. The left-footed player is listed with Sports 360 GmbH, the consulting agency of Volker Struth, which, among others, once represented Toni Kroos. The parents’ opinion also plays a central role in Bischof’s career plan, explains Schicker: “He will talk about the topic again with the family during the vacation.” After that, the matter seems to be heading towards a decision. The sports director is impressed that the situation has had no effect on the talent’s performances: “You can’t tell from watching him play.”
An important argument of the competition: Europe
Now it is up to Schicker to throw some arguments into the ring in the struggle for the homegrown talent: “He knows very well what he has at TSG. We have tried to make this palatable to him with the utmost conviction in our discussions. A young player will have a difficult phase from time to time. I am convinced that TSG Hoffenheim, as a familiar environment, can absorb that better than others.”
But the aforementioned competition can advertise the – at least as far as FCB and RB are concerned – secure pound of Europe. Eintracht is also on course, and VfB is at least within striking distance of international business despite its recent slip-up against FC St. Pauli. Hoffenheim can only dream of that at the moment.