Wisla leads in the league and in the arms race

By: Conrad | February 17th, 2008

We are all longing our favourite Orange Ekstraklasa to wake up from the winter rest and crave for the first whistle on Polish pitches. Since it will happen in next weekend, current leader of the league is arming for the spring round like no other Polish club.

Although Lobodzinski and Matusiak are already Wisla’s players (the latter one is already scoring goals for White Star), sport director Jacek Bednarz still struggle to gain over one of the best midfielder currently playing in Poland, and the national hero who warms the bench in German VfL Wolfsburg.

In Gargula’s case, GKS and Wisla are fighting over him like ravenous hounds over the piece of meat. The argument is obviously about money. I cannot say for sure, but stewards of GKS seem to be upset about that they have lost Matusiak in Wisla’s favour, but according to player himself, on their own wish. Now they desperately try to keep Gargula but it is fighting for an already lost cause. In situation when player himself do not want to play for GKS anymore, their last resort is dictating riddiculously high amounts of money for a definite transfer. Bednarz however found a tricky loop-hole apparently allowing him to pay off Gargula for 300,000 euro. Game Department of Polish Football Association will judge till nearest Wednesday is there a real posibility for Wisla to buy Gargula for this sum.

Things however look even worse with Krzynowek. Rumours of this transfer emerged with New Year’s Eve and opening of transfer window in western leagues. It would be the most spectacular transfer into Polish league, since… I do not know, maybe return of Kosowski. Anyway, before we start dream about Krzynowek scoring goals for Wisla in Champions League, and dazzling with his performence on Euro 2008, we have to face sad facts. Krzynowek, on 10 days before window’s closure is still a player of VfL Wolfsburg, and pertinacious Germans are not likely to let Krzynowek go. They have already blocked the transfer to Hertha Berlin, as proposed offer of 800,00 euro did not match Volves demands (it is approximately 1,2 mln euro). Yesterday however, Jacek Bednarz announced that he will do his best to bring Krzynowek to Wisla, if not by transfer, then on loan. In the context of Champions League and oncoming Austro-Swiss tournament, these negotiations may be crucial for the future of Polish football. Krzynowek’s situation in his club is tragic – Wolfsburg has won 5 consecutive games recently, beating such firms like Schalke 04 and current German champ VfB Stuttgart (4:1!), all of these without Krzynowek’s appearance. I do not want here to scent some deeply hatched anti-Polish conspiracy in the context of the German-Polish clash oncoming in June, but…

Anyway, if Wisla manage to contract both Gargula and Krzynowek, we may start to compare current team to those Wisla which celebrated successes in UEFA Cup under Kasperczak’s lead. But of course, results will verify everything.