Graz confirmed “final offer”
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This article was first published on 04.08.2024 and was updated on 05.08.2024 with new information about the impending transfer.
After the upheaval at the leadership level, TSG Hoffenheim has yet to secure any new signings this summer. Frank Kramer, who has taken over on an interim basis for sports director Alexander Rosen, must quickly find his footing in his new position after previously being responsible for the youth department in a managerial role. The first transfer appears to be the arrival of Alexander Prass from Austrian champions Sturm Graz.
| Rumor | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | A. Prass |
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| Left midfield | ||||||||||
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Update: According to “Sky” reporter Florian Plettenberg, the signing of the 23-year-old midfielder, who is primarily at home on the left side, is a done deal. In the past, the Austrian Euros participant has been repeatedly linked with a move to the German Bundesliga. There were rumors about clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt. It seems that the Sinsheimers have won the race against clubs like Southampton, Bologna, or Atalanta Bergamo. The transfer fee is said to be up to 12 million euros, including bonuses. The medical check is expected to take place on Monday.
On Sunday, Sturm sports director Andreas Schicker commented on Prass’s situation before the season opener against Rapid Vienna and announced an imminent departure. “It was no secret that we have been in talks and negotiations in recent weeks. And it was such that a final offer came in this morning. (…) The contracts are now being checked, and Alex will then go or fly for a medical check,” he said at “Sky Sport Austria“, but did not reveal anything further about the destination of the 23-year-old.
In its history, TSG has only spent a sum of 12 million euros or more on a new player five times. For the left midfield position, they previously spent the most on Robert Skov with 10 million euros five years ago. With the conclusion of the deal for Prass, Graz would rank among the three most expensive departures. According to “Gazzetta dello Sport,” Graz recently mentioned 15 million euros as a transfer fee when it came to interest from Bologna. The left-footer, who was recently absent from the squad, joined the Styrians on a free transfer in 2021 and has since seen his valuation rise from 700,000 to 12 million euros, making him the most valuable player in his team.