Hamburg seek to bring dissatisfied Southampton striker Damion Downs back to the Bundesliga | OneFootball

Kicker reports that Hamburg are seeking to bring dissatisfied Southampton striker Damion Downs back to the Bundesliga. The newly promoted Bundesliga outfit urgently needs to acquire a striker over the coming January transfer window. Recent news that a serious ankle injury will send injury-prone HSV captain Yussuf Poulsen back to the sidelines indefinitely exacerbates matters. Köln sold downs to Southampton for a €10m (inclusive bonuses) this autumn. 

Kicker claims that HSV have enquired about a potential loan deal. Downs still hasn’t opened his EFL Championship account in 11 league appearances and is reportedly dissatisfied with his playing time. The USMNT international would surely like to return to familiar confines in order to keep himself fit and in form ahead of this summer’s forthcoming World Cup.

Does Downs have proven Bundesliga experience?

Indeed he does. Some may not recall that, prior to Köln’s relegation at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Downs scored two German top flight goals for die Geißböcke. Both tallies were also absolute clutch. A late equalizer against Borussia Mönchengladbach on matchday 25 enabled Köln to nick a point of their fierce Rhein rivals. Downs also netted a late winner against Union Berlin on the season’s penultimate matchday. 

Downs sltimatelywasn’t able to help Köln avoid the drop, but did contribute to their immediate promotion back to the top flight via 10 2. Bundesliga goals and five assists during the next season. The Effzeh initially resisted attempts by the Saints to purchase their player until an oversized offer effectively twice that of which was put together initially was submitted.

GGFN | Peter Weis