This attack is a joy: will HSV skip another striker? | OneFootball

Merlin Polzin currently has no reason to complain about a lack of attacking output. HSV have already scored six goals in three friendlies.

And they were up against some fairly high-profile opponents in Rapid Vienna (2:3), 1. FC Heidenheim (3:1) and Everton FC (1:2). But Hamburg’s attacking department, still the team’s big problem area last season with just 40 goals, is already in impressive early form. This realization is now also influencing further squad planning.

The fact that HSV have so far presented only one new striker despite three departures, is, according to the Hamburger Abendblatt, also to be understood as a deliberate decision in favor of Otto Stange. The teenager only recently made a name for himself across Europe as the joint top scorer at the U19 European Championship and is regarded anyway as HSV’s biggest attacking talent of recent years. In the friendly against Everton FC (1:2), he impressed with a lively display as a nominal left winger.

Photo: IMAGO

HSV have more urgent problem areas than striker

But Stange is not the only one making a strong impression at the moment. Patson Daka has hit the ground running since his arrival, former captain Yussuf Poulsen has so far come through pre-season without any issues, and Rayan Philippe also looks much improved compared to the second half of last season. So for the moment, the urgency of bringing another striker to the Volkspark no longer seems quite so pressing.

Top priority, however, is the defense. The club is determined to bring in a new defensive leader as well as one or two more players for the wing-back positions. In addition, HSV’s decision-makers are still pushing to sign playmaker Fabio Vieira on a permanent deal.

The result: despite the departures of Ransford Königsdörffer, Robert Glatzel and Damion Downs, it is currently not certain that the northern Germans will definitely sign another finisher. But the final word has not yet been spoken on that issue. Much will likely depend on the coming weeks and the further performances of Stange, Daka and Co.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.