Karim Coulibaly and Dawid Kownacki were absent from SV Werder Bremen's friendly against SC Paderborn, fueling speculation about imminent departures. The Weser-Kurier reported on the 2-2 draw this Saturday. Football executive Clemens Fritz denied a direct link to transfer talks, citing injuries as the reason for the two professionals' absence.
Why were the two players missing?
Officially, Karim Coulibaly was unavailable due to load management. For Dawid Kownacki, the cause was more specific. "Dawid Kownacki turned his ankle in training yesterday and therefore dropped out at short notice," explained head coach Daniel Thioune. Salim Musah was also absent due to illness. Thioune stressed the urgency of a quick return, given the demanding personnel situation. The current injury list is lengthy, as can also be seen on our injuries page.
Is a transfer for Karim Coulibaly imminent?
The 19-year-old centre-back Coulibaly is considered one of the hottest transfer candidates in Werder's squad. Several interested parties are said to be present, and his previously unresolved agent situation is reportedly clarified. A sale is firmly planned to provide the club with the necessary funds for further transfers. "There are some conversations going on right now," said Clemens Fritz, but he did not want to fuel speculation. A concrete timeline for a deal is not yet set.
How would Werder react to a potential departure?
Should Coulibaly leave the club, no direct replacement for the centre-back position is currently planned. With the prior signing of Oskar Wojcik, Werder has already taken precautions. The millions expected from a sale are instead to be used for other urgent issues in the squad. Thioune clearly demanded: "We have to increase the quality. We have let quality go." He sees a need for reinforcements in defence, midfield and attack.
What is the state of the rest of the squad?
The current squad depth is a topic. Besides the injured players and transfer candidates, Werder relies on a mix of experienced quality players and young potential. The team is preparing for the new season, which starts on 21 August 2026. A look at the squad overview shows the current personnel resources in each position. Plans for the remaining transfer period must keep this overall situation in mind.
What does this mean for the rest of the transfer window?
Werder's management is operating under financial constraints. Every major sale, like Coulibaly's, creates room for necessary purchases. Thioune, however, remained calm: "Something will certainly still happen. That's why I'm not restless, but relatively balanced, because I simply know this situation." The clear priority is to increase the quality in several areas of the team to be prepared for the upcoming challenges of the Bundesliga season. The coming weeks will show how the squad is concretely shaped before the season starts.
