TSG Hoffenheim is going through a turbulent summer: After internal unrest, the future of coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was in question for a long time until the 46-year-old committed to TSG. Meanwhile, in the background, work continues on the squad for the new season.
How Sky reported, TSG has secured a new central defender: Etienne Youte Kinkoue is said to be coming from French first division club Le Havre and will soon sign a long-term contract with Hoffenheim. A transfer fee of between five and six million euros is reportedly due for the 22-year-old. If everything goes according to plan, Kinkoue would complete his medical before the weekend.
Kinkoue was once considered a great talent who spent two years in Inter Milan’s U19 team. After a chapter in the B team of Olympiakos Piraeus, the Lyon native is back in his French homeland and established himself as a regular player at Ligue 1 club Le Havre over the course of last season. The 1.96-meter giant now wants to take the next step in his still young career in the Bundesliga.
Hoffenheim’s transfer activities are far from over. Talks with Armel Bella-Kotchap are said to be “well advanced”, which would mean that the Bundesliga club would secure the next player for the new defensive centre. Two of the current central defenders, John Brooks and Kasim Adams, have already been sold, and loan returnee Attila Szalai is also set to be sold.
