On an emotional day of tear-jerking farewells at Borussia Park, Monchengladbach ensured that two of German football’s worst-kept secrets are now public knowledge.
Marcus Thuram and Ramy Bensebaini, the Bundesliga club confirms, will leave Die Fohlen when their contracts expire on July 1st.
So too will a man who has spent the last eight seasons in that black and white shirt, scoring 80 goals, playing over 250 games and wearing the captain’s armband with pride. A man who’s departure might just give Rangers an unwanted headache ahead of the summer transfer window.
“I have done a lot of thinking over the past few weeks,” 34-year-old Lars Stindle tells the ‘Gladbach website. “It was an incredibly difficult decision. Nevertheless, I feel like the time has come for me to go down a new path.”
“During our conversations with Lars,” sporting director Roland Virkus adds. “We quickly realised that this wasn’t simply a sporting decision. Lars has now made his decision and we totally respect it, even if we regret it.
“The sadness will hit me at some point. But, for now, we are just focusing on the final few weeks together.”
Lars Stindl out, Ianis Hagi in?
Stindl will take some replacing. Even in his mid-30s, the Germany international remains a highly influential presence. Stindl has reached double figures for goals and assists in yet another Bundesliga campaign; leading by example on and off the pitch.
Ianis Hagi, then, would have very big boots to fill if he is chosen to step into a Stindl-shaped void at the heart of Daniel Farke’s midfield. Romanian publication Pro Sport claim that Borussia Monchengladbach have ‘expressed their interest’ in Rangers’ number seven.
A stylish, mobile attacking midfielder with an eye for goal; Hagi possesses many of the attributes Gladbach will be looking for in a Stindl replacement.
And, while the former Genk youngster is still under contract until the summer of 2026 at Ibrox, perhaps this is the right time to cash in.
Hagi, after all, has only played 31 minutes of Premiership football all season due to that long-standing knee injury. Presuming Malik Tillman’s loan is turned into a permanent stay, Hagi could begin next term as Rangers’ third choice attacking midfielder too. Behind the Bayern Munich whizzkid and January arrival Todd Cantwell.
As things stand, the extent of Gladbach’s interest remains uncertain. But as Stindl’s farewell tour begins, Hagi’s own future is likely to come under further question in the coming weeks and months.
