Deal about to be finalized: RB new signing Baku not a starting eleven candidate

Ridle Baku, who is on the verge of a move to RB Leipzig, is not yet a starting eleven candidate against Werder Bremen. "Because he's missing the sessions and some of the lads have worked well here," said coach Marco Rose. RB will play Bremen on Sunday (3.30 pm/DAZN) when the Bundesliga resumes and Baku is likely to be in the squad.

Baku's move from VfL Wolfsburg to Leipzig for around €4.5 million is now only a matter of time. The four-time international is already in Leipzig and completed his medical check on Friday.

"He brings us added value and a type of player in the full-back position that we didn't yet have in that position. That's why we brought him in," Rose said of Baku. He had already had the 26-year-old and his brother in children's training at Mainz.

Dynamics and pace

Rose described Baku's strengths as his "dynamism, pace, work rate, but also his footballing quality". He has already proven a lot and has already played for the national team. Baku was a regular in Wolfsburg and his contract would have expired in the summer.

Xaver Schlager is also unlikely to be in the starting eleven. The Austrian has already made four appearances following his cruciate ligament rupture, but is now struggling with muscular problems. "His knee is good, it's about the structures around it. He is not free in his movements," said Rose. In contrast, the 48-year-old can rely on Kevin Kampl and Amadou Haidara in defensive midfield.