Werder Bremen target Burnley centre-back Hjalmar Ekdal | OneFootball

Fabrizio Romano reports that Werder Bremen are attempting to acquire Burnley centre-back Hjalmar Ekdal on loan. The 11-times-capped Swedish international is a semi- regular starter for the Clarets in the Premier League and recently raised his estimated market value back up to €6m from €4.5m in the last seven months. 

Ekdal’s value may end up being the stumbling block to getting a loan over the line as Burnely are reportedly not interested in anything other than a permanent transfer. Bremen’s transfer budget won’t allow for an outright purchase. 

Bremen require urgent help in central defense

A wave of injuries (Amos Pieper, Maximilian Wöber, and Niklas Stark) have left Bremen barren in central defense. Captain Marco Friedl and rising German talent Karim Coulibaly can effectively fill two thirds of head coach Horst Steffen’s back-three, but transfer busts Julian Malaltini and Senne Lynen has been forced to fill in lately to poor effect.

Bremen are also hindered by injuries to fullbacks Mitchell Weiser, Felix Agu, and Isaac Schmidt, rendering it very difficult for Steffen roll out a back-four. One assumes that, should Burnley toe a firm line in the case of Ekdal, the SVW front office will quickly move on to another target. 

GGFN | Peter Weis