ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Eintracht Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen have joined Bundesliga rivals Hamburg in the race for Union Berlin goal monster Bobby Wood, MLSsoccer.com has learned.
A German source with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the relegation-fighting trio were all interested in acquiring the US international, but cautioned any or all of them would be forced out of the picture if doomed to the drop as Wood is looking to move up a level from the 2.Bundesliga. On Monday, German tabloid Bild reported that the Iron Union had set the American's price tag at €3 million (equivalent to just under $3.5 million).
With four games to go in the capital crew's campaign, the Hawaii native is sitting on 17 league goals. That sum is is good for third on the league goal chart, as well as a new single-season standard for Americans playing in Germany's top two flights. Along the way, Wood has put up an eight-game scoring streak, which also set a record for Americans playing in Europe.
Hamburg's crush on Wood was first reported back in March, while Stuttgart have resurrected interest after originally being among the clubs checking him out before the 23-year-old signed with Union Berlin last summer.
The forward has also been rumored as being under the watchful eye of Bayer Leverkusen and Premier League side Liverpool in recent months, but MLSsoccer.com has been unable to confirm either of those links.
Jerome Kiesewetter's Stuttgart currently reside in one of two Bundesliga relegation spots with four rounds to play, while Timothy Chandler's Eintracht sit in the survival playoff slot. Meanwhile, Aron Johannsson's Bremen are dangling over the trap door, just one point ahead of those two clubs.
Wood, who has four goals in 16 US national team caps, has been named to Jurgen Klinsmann's provisional squad for this summer's Copa America Centenario tournament.
