Transfer coup Entrup: Why LASK came to the conclusion

It is a testament to Maximilian Entrup’s quality that ÖFB team manager Ralf Rangnick called the striker into the European Championship squad. The 26-year-old is currently riding the wave of euphoria with the national team at the finals in Germany. He is expected to initiate a similar wave in the upcoming Bundesliga season at LASK: his move from Hartberg to Linz is a done deal.

The rumor that the rising star was a transfer target for LASK had been circulating for weeks. Now, according to OÖN information, the athletes have come to a conclusion. Official confirmation from the clubs is still missing, especially since the obligatory medical check is still pending. This will take place after the European Championships. The clubs are in agreement, and everything is clear with Entrup too.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed details: Entrup is said to be worth 1.3 million euros to LASK, plus performance-related bonus payments. The contract runs for five years. The reason the Italian was so interested in a Hartberg striker is because LASK pulled off a real coup with the signing: In addition to Austria Vienna, Serie A clubs were also after Entrup. According to Romano, Lecce, the new club of the previous Austria goalkeeper Christian Früchtl, was particularly interested.

In the major leagues, the transfer window has not officially opened yet, and the transfer market will not really get going until after the European Championships. This gave LASK sports director Radovan Vujanovic the chance to get ahead of the competition – and he took advantage of it.

With Entrup, Marin Ljubicic gets a competitor and coach Thomas Darazs has the choice between two different types of centre-forward – at least for the time being. Because Entrup’s signing could be a prelude to Ljubicic’s departure. The 22-year-old striker, who was in Croatia’s main squad before the European Championship, is in demand internationally.

At the second attempt

Hartberg secured a replacement for Entrup last week from LASK with the loan of Elias Havel. The shoes are big: a year ago Hartberg brought in Entrup from regional league club Marchfeld, and in his second attempt in the Bundesliga he really took off, scoring twelve goals.

The first ended six years ago after two appearances for Rapid and seven for St. Pölten, after which he played in Lafnitz, Traiskirchen and Marchfeld. For two years he was hampered by a bone marrow edema in his ankle. “I knew I could do more than play in the regional league. I never stopped believing in myself. I know what I can do and where the goal is,” said Entrup before his team debut in November 2023 against Germany (2-0).

He scored his first goal in the team’s uniform in the penultimate European Championship friendly against Turkey (6:1). After the finals, he will be hunting for goals for LASK.

The preparation of LASK

• Wednesday, 19 June, 11 a.m. | Training field Raiffeisen-Arena: start of training
• Thursday, June 20: Performance tests
• Friday, June 28, 7 p.m.: Oedt – LASK
• Tuesday, July 2, 4 p.m. | Pasching: LASK – Cluj (Rome)
• Friday, July 5, 4 p.m. | Pasching: LASK – Dynamo Budweis (Czech)
• Saturday, July 20, 3 p.m. | Raiffeisen Arena: LASK – St. Pölten

First competitive matches:

• 26 July, 6 p.m. | Ried, Klaus-Roitinger-Stadion: ÖFB-Cup, 1st round: Belts – LASK
• 2/3/4 August: Bundesliga, 1st round

Previous transfers

• Access: Jerome Boateng (D, Salernitana), Hrvoje Smolcic (Cro, Frankfurt, loan), Melayro Bogarde (Ned, Hoffenheim II), Nikolas Polster (Horn, after loan), Luca Wimhofer (Horn, after loan), Moussa Kone (Sen, Streda, after loan)
• Departures: Elias Havel (Hartberg, loan), Sanoussy Ba (D, Leipzig, after loan), Lukas Jungwirth (Admira, loan), Felix Luckender, Peter Michorl, Philipp Wiesinger, Yannis Letard (Fra)