Borna Sosa agrees Cologne move as Palace talks enter final stage | OneFootball

FC Cologne have taken a significant step toward completing the deadline-day signing of Borna Sosa, with the Croatian international reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the cathedral city club. According to Florian Plettenberg, Cologne and the 28-year-old have agreed terms on a proposed loan from Crystal Palace.

A complete agreement between the clubs has not yet been reached, but negotiations over the remaining details are described as progressing positively. The current expectation is that Sosa will join Cologne on loan without a purchase option. The development moves the former VfB Stuttgart wing-back considerably closer to a Bundesliga return.

Get German Football News reported on Sunday that Sosa had emerged as a potential late-window option for Cologne, three years after the Croatian left Stuttgart for Ajax. GGFN has also reported that AZ Alkmaar full-back Mees de Wit had emerged as the principal alternative to Sosa.

The verbal agreement with the player now confirms that hierarchy and leaves Cologne attempting to complete the final negotiations with Crystal Palace. De Wit consequently remains the contingency should those talks unexpectedly fail.

Cologne seek experienced competition for Gideon Mensah

Cologne have spent the closing stages of the transfer window searching for another established left-sided defender capable of competing with Gideon Mensah. Sosa would provide substantially more Bundesliga experience than most available alternatives. The Croatia international spent five seasons with Stuttgart and developed into one of the league’s most dangerous attacking wing-backs before joining Ajax for €8m in 2023.

Subsequent spells with Ajax, Torino and Crystal Palace have proven less successful. A return to Germany would therefore offer Sosa an opportunity to return to the competition in which he produced the strongest football of his club career.

Cologne have already secured the player’s approval.

The final task is reaching an agreement with Palace before the deadline.

GGFN | Peter Weis