Augsburg linked with moves for Mërgim Berisha and Leonardo Scienza | OneFootball

Germany’s Fuggerstädter are apparently looking within the Bundesliga in their efforts to upgrade their attack during the current January transfer window. Kicker reports the FC Augsburg sporting director Marinko Jurendic seeks to recruit former German national team striker Mërgim Berisha back to the club. Sky’s Patrick Berger, meanwhile, claims that 1. FC Heidenheim winger Leonardo Scienza is also a candidate to join the FCA.

Berisha moved from Augsburg to Hoffenheim in August 2023 on a €14m deal. Unfortunately for the twice-capped German international, an ACL tear sidelined him for the whole of last season. Berisha’s attempts to re-ingratiate himself within the squad this year were hindered by a dust-up with previous TSG trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo.

Under the new TSG coaching regime of Christian Ilzer, Berisha has made just one Europa League start. Aside from that, he’s logged minutes as a substitute in seven league and cup fixtures. Behind strikers such as Adam Hlozek, Haris Tabakovic, and the newly-acquired Gift Orban, Berisha possesses scant hopes of playing time. Andrej Kramaric and Marius Bülter can also play as centre-forwards.

Jurendic can likely promise Berisha hopes of reviving his career. Given how much sense a move would make for both sides, the rumors seem to have a great deal of credibility behind them. The situation with Scienza happens to be very different. Berger notes that concrete negotiations have not yet begun. Other clubs reportedly also hold interest in the Brazilian.

Although Scienza – brought in by Heidenheim after representing SSV Ulm 1846 in the 3. Liga last year – reportedly wants out, recent developments may keep him at Augsburg’s Bavarian-Swabian neighbors. Scienza started two of Heidenheim’s last three matches and scored a dramatic equalizer off the bench in last Wednesday’s 3-3 league draw with SV Werder Bremen.

GGFN | Peter Weis