Gulacsi, Blaswich, Vandevoordt: One goalkeeper has to go

Due to fierce competition, RB Leipzig will part ways with one of its goalkeepers ahead of the upcoming Bundesliga season. In addition to Peter Gulacsi and Janis Blaswich, the Belgian Maarten Vandevoordt, who was signed two years ago, will also be coming to Leipzig. "It will be an exciting decision. It won't work out with the three of them beyond the summer," said sporting director Rouven Schröder in the Bild podcast "Stammplatz".

At the moment, 33-year-old Hungarian international goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is once again the DFB Cup winners' number one. A few weeks ago, the ex-captain replaced Blaswich, who is a year younger than him and had stood in for Gulacsi during his cruciate ligament rupture with very good performances. Blaswich was then nominated for the national team by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, but his performance then tailed off.

Vandevoordt is currently still playing for his youth club KRC Genk, but Leipzig signed the U21 international for ten million euros back in April 2022. The 22-year-old is a regular goalkeeper at Genk and in Belgium's U21 squad and has already gained experience in the European Cup. The club sees him as the future, and all three keepers will lay claim to a regular place in the summer.

In view of the salaries, it will also be an economic decision to reduce the size of the trio, according to Schröder. "Three with the claim, that will be difficult in the long run. Then we have the issue of budget, which is added to that," said the 48-year-old.

Another loan of Vandevoordt is conceivable, but a sale of the Belgian is unlikely to be an issue. There were already rumors about Gulacsi in the winter that he could move to New York and finish his career there at his sister club. In the winter, the Hungarian decided against a transfer as he wanted to remain in focus for the European Championship in Germany. Gulacsi's contract runs until the summer of 2025, while Blaswich, whose contract runs for one more year, could also be sold if he is guaranteed a regular place at another club.