Sörloth reaches terms with RB Leipzig - Confusion over ownership

Norwegian striker Alexander Sörloth is a candidate to replace Patrik Schick at RB Leipzig, Bild reported on Wednesday, Aug. 12. A new report now suggests that personal terms have already been agreed on.

"[Negotiations to sign Schick] have been stuck for weeks," Leipzig sporting director Markus Krösche said—the Red Bulls want another loan, Roma want to sell Schick for €25 million. As a result, Leipzig are now focusing on signing Sörloth from Trabzonspor.

Trabzonspor striker Sörloth has recently increased his market value to €20 million and with 24 goals scored was one of the best strikers in Europe. He is 24, just like Schick, left-footed and strong in the air—at 194cm he is seven centimeters taller than the Czech striker.

The top scorer of the Süper Lig is currently under contract until 2022 at Crystal Palace, who bought the striker for €9 million from FC Midtjylland in January 2018. But he never managed to gain regular playing time in the Premier League and then on loan at KAA Gent could not meet the expectations set in the Danish league. In the summer of 2019, he was loaned for two years to Trabzonspor where he finally achieved his breakthrough. The striker has been involved in 44 goals across 49 games. 

Sörloth sale: Trabzonspor or Crystal Palace to profit?

The Turkish club have a buy-on clause worth €6 million, which they are expected to trigger in order to make a profit from a potential transfer. Leipzig, therefore, have to negotiate with the Süper Lig club and not with Crystal Palace. One factor is that Leipzig will be playing in the Champions League next season, Trabzonspor, in the meantime, are banned in Europe because of breaches to the Financial Fair Play regulations. 

Update Aug. 17: There is some confusion about Sörloth's contractual situation. According to various English sources, Trabzonspor have a clause in his loan deal that would be activated should the striker play 50% of next season's games. But pointed out by English transfer expert Chris Williams on Twitter, the situation is only complicated at a first glance, Sörloth can force a move back to Crystal Palace, which, in turn, would allow Leipzig to negotiate a deal with the Premier League side that would be far below Trabzonspor's demands that are in the region of €25-26 million. Sörloth has already made up his mind, he wants to join Leipzig this summer.

Even if Sörloth is no longer a talent, his profile fits Leipzig's transfer strategy: a young player, who can still be developed and potentially be sold with a profit. Only two Leipzig of Leipzig's 20 most expensive transfers were older than 24—Omer Damari was 25 and Kevin Kampl 26. 

Werner 12th RB Leipzig's most expensive transfers Overview This summer, RB Leipzig earned €54.5 million by selling Timo Werner to Chelsea and loaning out Hannes Wolf to Gladbach. Some of that money has been re-invested. The club spent €11.5 million on Hee-chan Hwang (RB Salzburg) and Josep Martínez (Las Palmas).