FC Basel technical director explains why second striker signing fell through

FC Basel did not sign a promised second striker after a pre-agreed deal collapsed due to an injury at the selling club. The club will now rely on Zan Celar and youth prospect Giacomo Koloto.

FC Basel ended the summer transfer window without signing the promised second striker. Technical director Andreas Herrmann explained on the club's podcast 'Achzädreyenünzig' on Wednesday that a pre-agreed deal fell through at the last minute.

"We actually had a complete agreement," Herrmann said. The deal collapsed after the injury situation at the selling club changed. The targeted player was subsequently declared not for sale because his club needed him. This led Basel to decide against pursuing another replacement and to stick with the existing squad. Herrmann emphasised that the club was not willing to sign a player just for the sake of it if he did not bring the desired sporting quality.

Trust in Koloto

Herrmann emphasised the desire to guarantee playing time for 18-year-old Giacomo Koloto. "We can throw Giacomo in without any concerns," the technical director stated. The club has full confidence in the youth striker, even if top scorer Zan Celar gets injured. The 27-year-old Slovenian has already scored five goals in eight appearances this season, leading the team's scoring chart. Herrmann said signing another striker would have required "something extraordinary," meaning a player clearly better than the existing options. Such a player was not found on the market.

Philip Otele, who scored against Luzern, is also seen as an alternative in the centre-forward role. The Nigerian can be deployed both on the wings and up front. The team sits fourth in the Super League with 13 points from eight games and aims to secure a second consecutive win against FC St. Gallen at the Joggeli on Sunday (16:30). Recent form shows a positive trend with two wins, one draw, and two losses from the last five matches. Coach Fabio Celestini also expressed satisfaction with the squad composition.

Left-back situation addressed

Beyond the striker debate, Herrmann also addressed the search for a left-back. Fans had hoped for a return of a player with a Basel past, but Herrmann said such a player would have expected to be the clear number one. Instead, the club is relying on new signing Coleen Louis as the first choice and Clément Michelin as a versatile full-back for both flanks. Herrmann pointed out that the club is very satisfied with this solution and considers the position well covered. They deliberately avoided a short-term stopgap.

The focus is now entirely on sporting matters. After the 4-2 away win in Luzern, the aim is to maintain contact with the league's leading group. The full schedule for the coming weeks is available on the fixtures page. The next home game against St. Gallen offers a chance to improve the record to four wins from nine games. Herrmann concluded by stating that the transfer committee is already preparing for the winter window, but the immediate focus is on the performances of this season's squad.