Werder Bremen are preparing for a potentially hectic conclusion to the summer transfer window after Jens Stage’s serious injury forced the club to substantially revise its plans. Bremen chief personnel executive Clemens Fritz has confirmed that Werder now expect to make at least one additional signing specifically because of the Danish midfielder’s long-term absence.
Stage suffered a severe thigh muscle injury in training ahead of Sunday’s Bundesliga opener against SC Freiburg and is not expected to return before the end of the 2026 calendar year. The 29-year-old has scored ten Bundesliga goals in each of the past two seasons and represents not only one of Bremen’s most important midfielders, but also their most consistent recent source of goals.
Bremen’s need for reinforcements only became more apparent during Sunday’s 4-1 defeat away at Freiburg. Daniel Thioune’s side competed well during the opening stages, but struggled to create attacking danger and collapsed after falling behind. Thioune subsequently acknowledged that his squad remains unfinished.
Youri Regeer expected to cover defensive midfield role
Werder are already working to bring Ajax midfielder Youri Regeer to the Weserstadion. The 23-year-old Dutchman is expected to arrive on loan with a purchase option and offers significant positional flexibility. Regeer primarily operates as a defensive midfielder but can also cover at right-back. His profile nevertheless differs considerably from Stage’s.
Fritz has openly acknowledged that Bremen cannot replace the Dane on a one-for-one basis, particularly given Stage’s attacking output and familiarity with the team. Regeer consequently appears likely to represent only one part of Werder’s response. Thioune has also made clear that he expects a genuine first-team reinforcement rather than another long-term development project.
Werder also seek attacking midfielder
Bremen are therefore expected to pursue another offensively oriented midfielder before the deadline. Former loanee Cameron Puertas remains one candidate. The 28-year-old is currently contracted to Al-Qadsiah, though the Saudi club’s reported €10m asking price has thus far proven difficult for Werder to meet.
Fritz nevertheless indicated that Bremen are prepared to accept “a certain amount of risk” financially following Stage’s injury. Werder’s financial restrictions remain an important factor despite significant summer transfer income. Approximately €30m has reportedly been generated through the sales of Karim Coulibaly and Romano Schmid, but relatively little of that money has thus far been directly reinvested in permanent additions.
Moussa Ndiaye is another player Bremen hope to add before the window closes.
Mbangula and Malatini departures gather pace
Additional outgoing business could give Bremen considerably more room to maneuver. Samuel Mbangula and Julián Malatini both missed Monday training after Werder officially confirmed that the pair are holding talks with other clubs. Mbangula’s situation has developed particularly quickly.
The 22-year-old Belgian winger was signed from Juventus for approximately €10m last summer, but has struggled to establish himself consistently. He was substituted at half-time during Bremen’s DFB-Pokal opener and remained unused during Sunday’s defeat in Freiburg.
Italian transfer reporter Gianluca Di Marzio has linked both Bologna and Atalanta with Mbangula. Malatini is similarly moving closer to the exit. Werder would additionally like to find solutions for returning loanees Dawid Kownacki and Skelly Alvero.
“If you free up some salary budget, you can perhaps invest a little more,” Fritz noted.
Stage injury transforms Bremen’s deadline plans
Werder therefore enter the final phase of the window with considerably more business to conduct than anticipated only days ago. Regeer could provide defensive midfield cover, while Ndiaye would strengthen the left flank. Stage’s absence has nevertheless created an additional requirement for attacking quality, with Puertas among the options currently under consideration.
Possible departures involving Mbangula and Malatini could in turn determine how much financial room Fritz has to complete those deals.
The urgency surrounding the situation has only increased following the heavy opening-day defeat in Freiburg. Bremen next host RB Leipzig, and a squad that already lacked established automatisms must now attempt to compensate for the loss of its leading Bundesliga goalscorer from each of the previous two seasons.
With the transfer deadline approaching, Werder’s summer transfer business appears far from complete.
