Union Berlin close in on preferred Mauro Lustrinelli target Kastriot Imeri | OneFootball

Union Berlin are reportedly closing in on the signing of Swiss attacker Kastriot Imeri from Young Boys Bern, with head coach Mauro Lustrinelli poised to reunite with one of his former players. According to Kicker, only final details remain before Imeri completes a move to the German capital. The 26-year-old is expected to undergo his medical on Monday before signing a contract through June 2029. Union are reportedly set to pay approximately €2.5m for his services.

Imeri would become the latest Swiss reinforcement for a Union squad that has undergone significant late-window work. The Köpenickers recently completed the signing of Switzerland international Michel Aebischer, adding much-needed quality to a midfield that appeared seriously short of options earlier in the summer.

Get German Football News highlighted Union’s need for attacking reinforcements in our 2026/27 tactical preview. Imeri, comfortable cutting inside from the left wing or operating centrally, provides precisely the type of technically gifted and unpredictable option that Lustrinelli’s squad previously lacked in the final third.

Lustrinelli set to reunite with former pupil

Imeri is no stranger to the new Union trainer. Lustrinelli previously worked with the attacker at FC Thun, where Imeri registered six goals and eight assists during the club’s surprise championship-winning campaign. The Swiss-Italian coach also handed Imeri his Switzerland U21 debut, with contact between the pair reportedly having remained intact ever since.

The move therefore hands Lustrinelli one of his preferred targets as he continues rebuilding Union’s footballing identity. After Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, the 50-year-old described his work in Köpenick as akin to “building a house”, stressing that mentality and team spirit constituted the foundation upon which more developed footballing principles could eventually be constructed.

Imeri should eventually offer Lustrinelli another important piece of that project, though Union will have to wait briefly before deploying their prospective new signing. The Young Boys attacker is currently recovering from thigh problems and is not expected to return to action for approximately two weeks.

GGFN | Peter Weis