Werder Bremen give striker Marvin Ducksch permission to leave after the season | OneFootball

Having already lost one member of their attacking corps ahead of next season, Werder Bremen are reportedly prepared to let another veteran striker depart. The Bundesliga Hanseatic City State side has apparently broken off contract extension talks with Marvin Ducksch. The 31-year-old, along with teammate Oliver Burke, is free to leave Bremen this summer.

Kicker claims that Bremen have made the bold decision to not commit to the team’s current leading goalscorer. Ducksch has scored a total of 53 goals in 132 competitive appearances over the past four seasons with his current club. The twice-capped German international has also now equaled club icon Johan Micoud’s total number of Bundesliga goals (31) for the club over the past three seasons.

The Dortmund-native’s relationship with Bremen supporters has often times been somewhat rocky despite his contributions to the club. Ducksch and former teammate Niclas Füllkrug helped Bremen achieve promotion back to the top flight ahead of the 2022/23 season as part of the famed “ugly birds” attacking axis. Füllkrug and Ducksch – both late career bloomers – then both eventually ascended to the German national team.

Ducksch still clashed with the Werder supporters during goal-scoring droughts, most notably a long stretch without a league goal between February and April of 2024. He took some heat during Bremen’s form slump at the beginning of the current calendar year as well. Ducksch’s current contract was automatically extended a few weeks back thanks to the fact that performance incentives were met.

Bremen can surely find a number of takers for Ducksch over the summer. At present, the German journeyman maintains an estimated €7.5m market worth. Werder, meanwhile, appear set to rebuild around young attacking prospects such as Justin Njinmah and Keke Topp. RB Leipzig loanee André Silva has proven an absolute flop and will be sent back to his parent club.

GGFN | Peter Weis