Baumgartl speaks on St. Louis switch, Pfannenstiel to also recruit Opoku?
There are currently rumors that Pfannenstiel and staff are actively working on brining their seventh experienced Bundesliga professional to Missouri's St. Louis City FC.
| Timo Baumgartl playing for 1. FC Union Berlin | Maja Hitij, Getty Images |
After securing the services of St. Pauli's Marcel Hartel over the summer, St. Louis City FC personnel boss Lutz Pfannenstiel recently recruited his sixth German footballing professional to play for Missouri's relatively new expansion franchise in America's MLS. After his move to FC Schalke 04 didn't work out, former German youth international Timo Baumgartl signed a two-year-deal to play for Pfannenstiel late last month.
Baumgartl - a popular German footballer also known for the grace with which he handled his battle with cancer - recently conducted an interview on the DAZN's jointly managed podcast with Germany's Kicker Magazine. The 28-year-old declared himself excited about participating in a "class reunion" with former German footballers Harel, Roman Bürki, Eduard Löwen, Cedric Teuchert, Jannes Horn, and Ben Lundt.
“I've always saidthat I definitely wanted to go to America in my career," Baumgartl said on the pod, "I'm a big NBA and NFL fan and I've always liked that sports system. I wanted to be a part of it.”
"[St. Louis] is a sweet city," Baumgartl continued, "It's developed into one of America's footballing havens in recent years. The boys showed me their [American] houses. When Americans do something, they do it right. There's lots of great opportunities here."
“The MLS is getting better," Baumgartl concluded, "Especially before the World Cup, where interest will increase again. Lutz Pfannenstiel put it very aptly. I think the MLS is slowly becoming the sixth best league in the world. And knowing the Americans, they are also targeting the top five.”
Baumgartl's unbridled enthusiasm on the pod reminded many listeners of some sort of bygone advertisement for the "American dream". The manner in which he spoke on how he was recruited nevertheless left one with the impression that Pfannenstiel should have no problems recruiting more players to Middle America.
Sky Germany and Sport Bild are indeed reporting that Pfannenstiel has his next newcomer in the bag. FC Kaiserslautern attacker Aaron Opuku has reached a verbal agreement to move across the pond this winter. St. Louis will reportedly pay €300,000 to acquire the 25-year-old, who has scored two goals and notched three assists in seven league appearance for "die rote Teufel" thus far this season.
The Palatinate club isn't keen on letting the former Germany U20 international go, but will likely be persuaded to cash in on Opuku before his contract expires next summer. Opuku has scored a total of 16 league goals for Lautern, Osnabrück, and his hometown club Hamburger SV in the German second and third divisions.
