Yahoo Sports FC Augsburg updates: Mërgim Berisha signs, Irvin Cardona loaned to France again, Steve Mounie to depart?
Two transactions involving FC Augsburg were confirmed on Tuesday. The Bundesliga’s Fuggerstädter officially welcomed back former German national team striker Mërgim Berisha; sealing a loan deal with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim rumored to be in the pipeline for several days. Augsburg also confirmed a switch in loan locales for attacker Irvin Cardona.
Berisha’s loan arrangement technically only lasts for six months, but early rumors that an automatic purchase clause tied to a low number of appearances persist. The 26-year-old earned his two German senior national team caps whilst representing Augsburg and likely wishes to put the failed move to Kraichgau behind him. Berisha’s club-released statement (given below) suggested this.
Berisha’s arrival probably heralds the departure of another attacker. The Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung reports that FCA sporting director Marinko Jurendic is shopping Benin international Steve Mounie for a loan. The 30-year-old joined Augsburg on a free from Stade Brest this summer, yet has been unable to make an impact.
Mounie failed to impress in his lone Bundesliga start against Borussia Mönchengladbach on match-day six this season. Apart from that, he’s failed to get his name on the scoresheet in nine league relief appearances. Mountie did register an assist in the opening round of the Pokal. The Bavarian paper hints a loan out to the German second division may materialize.
On the topic of attackers unable to establish themselves with this particular German top-flight club, French forward Irvin Cardona is on the move again. Jurendic and the FCA front office team cut short the 27-year-old’s loan stint with RCD Espanyol in order to loan Cardona back out to St. Etienne in his native country yet again. Cardona has made only 13 Bundesliga appearances since he joined from Brest
Cardona spent the latter half of last season on loan with St. Etienne Lique 2 outfit, enjoying a successful spring with ten goals and three assists in ten appearances across all competitions. He featured in the playoffs that helped Les Verts achieve promotion to the French first division. He scored two goals and contributed three assists in 18 appearances across all comps in Spain.
“I really wanted to return to FCA, because I had my best time here,” Berisha noted in his club released statement. “I felt completely at home, scored a lot of goals and made enormous developmental strides.”
“Mergim knows the club and the environment very well,” Jurendic added. “He scored important goals during his time in Augsburg and developed into a member of the German national team. Mergim should find his way back to his old strength at FCA.“
GGFN | Peter Weis
