RB Leipzig wants Davie Selke: return to old strength?

RB Leipzig wants Davie Selke: return to old strength?

RB Leipzig, the Bundesliga club, has a strong interest in Davie Selke, the 30-year-old Hamburger SV striker. After several meetings and discussions between those responsible at the club and Selke's representatives, there are consistent signs of a possible return of the attacker to RB. RB Leipzig's sporting director, Marcel Schäfer, particularly emphasizes Selke's goalscoring qualities, his mentality and his accumulated experience, which could be of great importance for the coming season. Selke's contract with Hamburger SV ends on June 30, 2025, and an agreement on a contract extension does not seem to be in sight at the moment, which makes his free transfer likely after just one season at HSV, as Sky reported.

During his time at RB Leipzig from 2015 to 2017, Selke scored 14 goals and provided 4 assists in 53 games. This underlines his effectiveness on the pitch. After moving from 1. FC Köln to HSV on a free transfer last summer, Selke was instrumental in Hamburger SV's return to the Bundesliga and scored 22 goals this season, earning him the award as the best player of the 2024/25 second division season by the Transfermarkt community. Despite his positive impressions of Hamburg, the discussion surrounding a contract extension is complicated and Selke, already playing for RB Leipzig, could signal that he is ready to return to the city.

Interest from RB Leipzig and other clubs

RB Leipzig's interest comes against the background of the planned squad changes. RB currently has five center forwards in the squad, including André Silva, Yannick Eduardo, Benjamin Sesko, Loïs Openda and Yussuf Poulsen, but Selke could be a valuable addition as an experienced and strong player in the offensive. The fact that Leipzig missed out on international business last season reinforces the desire to strengthen themselves with a returnee like Selke and get back to the top. 1. FC Union Berlin is also in talks for Selke, which increases the competition for his signing, as Transfermarkt notes.

While HSV have offered Selke a two-season extension to his contract at an increased salary, the striker also appears to be considering the possibility of giving RB Leipzig a second chance. It remains to be seen whether the talks between the clubs will materialize and whether Selke is prepared to leave HSV after one season to return to his former club.

The negotiations will be crucial for both sides, as the freedom of transfer for Selke not only affects his personal salary, but will also have a significant impact on RB Leipzig's squad planning. As the current market situation shows, clubs have great ambitions when putting together their teams for the new season and Selke could play a central role in this, especially if he confirms his impressive performances from last season.