2024-01-05 21:15:00
It was the only construction site at FC St. Pauli in this winter transfer period – and now there are indications that it may be closed shortly. As is well known, the neighborhood club is looking for a replacement for captain Jackson Irvine, who is contesting the Asian Cup in Qatar (January 12th to February 10th) with Australia and will therefore miss up to five competitive games for the second-place team in the 2nd Bundesliga. Compatriot Connor Metcalfe is also out as a possible replacement for the same reason.
When looking for a professional who can fill this gap, FC St. Pauli has apparently found what they are looking for at Union Berlin. Aljoscha Kemlein, 19-year-old top talent from Köpenick, is to be loaned to Hamburg until the end of the season. The U20 international made his first two appearances in the Bundesliga at the start of the season and was allowed to play as a joker in the 4-1 wins against Mainz and Darmstadt, making him the youngest Union professional in Berlin’s short Bundesliga history. Kemlein also played in the Champions League in the 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid.
Aljoscha Kemlein (r.) in a duel with Real Madrid’s superstar Jude Bellingham in the Champions League IMAGO/Eibner
Aljoscha Kemlein (r.) in a duel with Real Madrid’s superstar Jude Bellingham in the Champions League
Aljoscha Kemlein already played against Real Madrid
The Berlin native, who graduated from high school last spring, was in the professional squad six more times, but only played minutes in the UEFA Youth League. Kemlein is a fixture in the central midfield of the German U20 national team. Kemlein could fit St. Pauli’s requirements profile perfectly. If he quickly gets used to coach Fabian Hürzeler’s system, he could gain the match practice at the Kiezklub that is still denied him at Union. Upon Irvine’s return, the talent, described as intelligent and level-headed, would probably move back into the secondary ranks without complaint.
The transfer should already be on the home stretch. It is possible that Kemlein will become a St. Paulian this weekend and then travel to the training camp in Benidorm. The plan is for him to be used for the first time next Friday in the friendly against VfL Osnabrück.
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