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Arnautovic to Rapid? Stöger reveals financial hurdles!
Peter Stöger becomes coach of Rapid Vienna. Discussions about Marko Arnautovic and his financial viability are pending.
Arnautovic to Rapid? Stöger reveals financial hurdles!
The rumor mill surrounding SK Rapid Vienna is currently bubbling enormously! With Peter Stöger, the new coach of the Green-Whites, a breath of fresh air is coming to the Hütteldorfers. However, whether he can bring Marko Arnautovic back home remains an exciting question. Stöger recently revealed that there has been no contact with the Austrian top striker so far. “The whole thing depends heavily on the club’s financial possibilities,” said the coach and made it clear that Arnautovic is not a bargain. A tidy sum is required for a change, which presents Rapid with a big challenge, as derStandard reports.
The negotiations are raging because Arnautovic has a hefty price. According to Kurier the striker's salary is around three million euros gross per season. However, sports director Markus Katzer sees himself in a dilemma: the club cannot simply afford such salaries. Therefore, third-party financing is being discussed. Rapid could therefore cover a third of the salary, while the rest would be covered by sponsors and additional income.
Financing strategies for Arnautovic
In order to earn the necessary funds, the people of Hütteldorf rely on a bundle of ideas. “Additional sales of subscriptions, VIP tickets and a higher average audience are being planned,” emphasizes the club’s board. The advertising value should also increase, because the jersey with the number seven and Arnautovic as the name tag could be a real bestseller. Former managing director Knipping remembered how high the sales figures were at the start of the season.
Discussions are already underway with major sponsors to finance the third third of the salary costs. It is expected that potential sponsors could provide up to one million euros. A Bundesliga regulation also allows one additional sponsor per jersey, who can even change from round to round, which could expand Rapid's financial flexibility.
A look at the international transfer market
In the context of high transfer spending in Europe's leagues, the race for the best players is increasingly becoming a financial test of strength. While Bayern Munich is in the headlines with Harry Kane's record transfer of over 100 million euros, Rapid could not even afford this enormous sum to sign their own son. Private-Banking-Magazin highlights that institutional investors are increasingly interested in transfer financing in order to improve the liquidity of clubs. In this context, clubs like Rapid could also hope for the support of investors in order to possibly get Arnautovic on the green table.
Bundesliga statutes ensure that clubs have to keep their liabilities under control. The economic stability of the football industry should play into Rapid's hands when it comes to Arnautovic's return. While the likelihood of a move increases, the final decision on contract negotiations remains to be seen. An exciting piece of theater that football fans in Vienna will watch with fascination!