At VfL Wolfsburg there are several players under Niko Kovac who play no role. There could be a departure for one or the other during the winter transfer window.

Wolfsburg started the season with a large squad. In theory, Niko Kovac can access 26 field players, plus the standard four goalkeepers.

So it's not surprising that there are several players who don't play a role under the manager. Accordingly, there is also a need for departures on the part of VfL, while many a dissatisfied professional may also be looking for a new team. These two plans meet in the approaching winter transfer phase.

In this regard, the picture speaks of five names that should come into question for migration.

First and foremost: Max Kruse, of course. The offensive player sorted out by Kovac will not want to be paid on the sidelines in the second half of the season – at least not from the club. Contractually, he will leave the club one way or another in the summer, but an early solution that is mutually desired is envisaged.

But many other players whose names are no less well known could also leave Wolfsburg in the winter.

This also includes Luca Waldschmidt. He was only signed by Benfica last summer. But instead of taking on an important role, he has so far been more of a stopgap. This small role corresponds neither to the ideas of the Bundesliga club nor the 26-year-old. A loan until the summer would also be realistic, after all, his contract runs until 2025.

Other bench pressers who may (should) run away: Josip Brekalo, Maximilian Philippp and Jerome Roussillon.

While Philipp is completely on the outside and mostly no longer in the squad, Brekalo still plays from time to time. But his contract expires in 2023. So winter is the last chance for the wolves to sell it for some money. A last chance that should probably be used.

Roussillon, on the other hand, is also out due to injury. Despite coming on as a substitute on the last day of the game, there will probably be no clear return to the team for him. His working paper also ends in 2023.

This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as Wolfsburg plans departures: Prominent VfL scratch list for the winter.