Florian Plettenberg has reported that 1. FC Köln is interested in signing SC Freiburg’s underperforming Eren Dinkçi on loan. Both Dinkçi and his former Heidenheim teammate Jan-Niklas Beste have struggled to make an impact under Julian Schuster at Freiburg this season. Köln could provide Dinkçi with the opportunities he needs, making him a potential ideal addition for die Geißböcke.
Dinkçi’s Last Bundesliga Goal Against Köln
Interestingly, Dinkçi’s last match for Heidenheim (the final day of the 2023/24 season) not only helped secure a Conference League spot for the team but also denied Freiburg a chance for European competition. During that loan spell, he had already completed a €5 million transfer to Freiburg from Werder Bremen for the upcoming season.
Dinkçi scored two goals in Heidenheim’s 4-1 victory over Köln, contributing to a successful season in which he netted 10 goals in the Bundesliga, significantly increasing his market value from €1 million to €12 million. He humorously noted that his goals may have “messed up” his chances of competing in Europe for Freiburg the following year.
No one expected those goals would mark the end of his Bundesliga scoring streak. During the last season, Dinkçi managed four assists in 23 league appearances for Freiburg but did not score again. Thus far this season, he has scored just once in a lower-tier cup match.
Dinkçi’s Performance Decline at Freiburg
Some have attributed Dinkçi’s struggles during the 2024/25 season to his move from the right wing to a central role due to the presence of Ritsu Doan. While this partially explains his decline, Dinkçi was comfortable playing centrally at his former club, Werder Bremen. The Bremen native possesses the size and agility to serve effectively as a natural No. 9.
His form seemed to improve when he consistently played on the right at Heidenheim, but he has not adapted well to Schuster’s tightly-structured 4-2-3-1 formation. With Doan’s departure over the summer, Dinkçi had the opportunity to return to the right side this season. However, like his teammates, he suffered a challenging start with back-to-back losses against Augsburg and Köln.
Afterward, a hip injury, coupled with competition from promising players like Derry Scherhant and Johan Manzambi, has limited his chances at Freiburg. Scherhant, eager to make his mark, has been competing for a spot on the right, pushed out by Vincenzo Grifo on the left.
While Beste has not excelled, he has shown more promise than Dinkçi this season. Schuster appears committed to working with Yuito Suzuki in the No. 10 position, leaving Dinkçi with few opportunities, despite the possibility of heading to the club where he last scored in the Bundesliga over a year and a half ago.