Sport Bild reports that Leeds United centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw might be headed back to his old club Köln on loan. The former Belgian international just moved to the Premier League outfit from Wolfsburg this past summer, but has literally only seen two minutes of action as a substitute. Prior to switching to the Isle, Bornauw spent six seasons in the Bundesliga playing for Wolfsburg and Köln.
Köln’s desperate need for help in central defense
Injuries to centre-backs Luca Kilian, Joël Schmied, Timo Hübers, and Dominique Heintz have left the Geißböcke defensive ranks thin. New summer signing Rav van den Berg has been struggling with injury as well. Though van den Berg recently returned, but earned a straight red card in the recent league loss against Union Berlin and will be suspended for the first two fixtures of the new calendar year.
Head coach Lukas Kwaniok has found himself less than convinced with other central defensive options Cenk Özkacar and Jusuf Gazibegovic. Disappointing results from Gazibegovic led to the 25-year-old being loaned back out to his old club Sturm Graz. Kwasniok needs bodies before his team resumes Bundesliga play on January 10th.
Bornauw’s previous stint in Köln
After a strong debut season in the cathedral city (Bornauw managed to score six league goals during the 2019/20 campaign), Bornauw’s second season with Köln was notoriously bad. Bornauw couldn’t perform well defensively and collected only one assist in 23 league appearances. On the final matchday of the season, however, Bornauw suddenly sprung to life.
A crucial game-winning goal over already relegated FC Schalke 04 helped Köln avoid direct relegation in dramatic last-minute-fashion. Bornauw and his team were able to climb to the relegation-playoff place thanks to his 86th-minute winner. They would then defeat Holstein Kiel in the 2020/21 promotion relegation playoff to remain in the league.
Bornauw moved to Wolfsburg on a €14.1m transfer in the summer of 2021. After four seasons spent playing for Germany’s green company team, Wolfsburg sold him to Leeds for €6m six months ago. At present, the 26-year-old is valued at €5m. His Leeds contract runs until 2029.
