Werder Bremen’s Deichstube fan-site reports that Southampton’s Yukinari Sugawara is on his way to the Bundesliga. The rumors are currently being corroborated by both Kicker and Sky Germany. Sugawara is set to join the Hanseaten on loan with a purchase option following the completion of a Monday medical.
Werder – currently experiencing a personnel and professional crisis – have been attempting to acquire a right back all summer. Repeated attempts to procure Swiss international Isaac Schmidt from Leeds have failed while contact with Eintracht Frankfurt over versatile German fullback Elias Baum led nowhere.
Sugawara was a regular for Southampton in the Premier League last season. Following the club’s relegation to the EFL Championship, however, the 15-times-capped Samurai international has reportedly been told by his agent that he needs to head to a different league in order to maintain his national team prospects.
New Southampton head coach Will Still – as quoted by Kicker – has confirmed that Sugawara’s representation has advised him to move to “one of Europe’s top five leagues” this summer. Bremen technically fulfill this need, even if some are tipping the club for relegation.
GGFN | Peter Weis
