Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung reports that Wolfsburg are beginning to look at potential candidates to replace Niko Kovac as time looks like it is running out for the head coach.
Wolfsburg are currently 13th in the Bundesliga and have not won since beating Darmstadt in December. Wolfsburg have two tough games against away at Bayer Leverkusen and at home against Augsburg. Losing against Augsburg is not an option, if they do then there is potential to part ways with Kovac.
This has not stopped the Autostadt club from looking for Kovac’s replacement already. There are four potential candidates to replace the Croatian.
The first is Bo Svensson, after leaving Mainz earlier in the season the Dane would be available to take over straight away. The same can be said for other candidates Thomas Reis (formerly of Schalke) and Stefan Kuntz (ex-Germany under-21 manager), however, the latter would likely be an interim option until the summer.
One name that is continually linked with the Wolfsburg role is St Pauli manager Fabian Hürzeler. However, he would not be available as he is currently in the midst of a race for promotion with the Hamburg side in the 2.Bundesliga, whilst he is also in negotiations with St Pauli over a new contract. Wolfsburg will have to hope a release clause is inserted into this potential new contract.
The overall issue for Wolfsburg is their constant underperforming in relation to the money they spend. Since winning the league in 2009, the club has only participated in the Champions League twice, in 2015, led by Kevin de Bruyne and in 2021. During this period they have spent significant fees on André Schürrle (€32m), Julian Draxler (€43m), John Anthony Brooks (€17m), and Lovro Majer (€25m). Whilst also spending more than €50m in total during a transfer window six times, which in Bundesliga terms is a lot of money for clubs of similar stature.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
