Following HSV’s early confirmation of Bundesliga survival, the club is now facing a squad overhaul as six loan players are set to return to their parent clubs and several contracts expire. Financial Director Dr. Eric Huwer stated in an NDR interview that the restructuring will be carried out with a measured approach.
Huwer, who has held various roles at the traditional Hamburg club since 2014, played a key role in keeping HSV financially stable despite seven years in the second division. “We have achieved great results not only on the pitch but also off it. We are heading toward a record year,” Huwer explained.
“We are not rich, but we are healthy. And we want to continue on our sensible and sustainable path.”
Despite a strong financial position, Huwer stressed that HSV will not take unnecessary risks. “We are not rich, but we are healthy. And we want to continue on our reasonable and sustainable path.”
Huwer: “We don’t want to fall into new dependencies”
Sustainability also means standing on their own feet, rather than relying on shareholder Klaus-Michael Kühne as they often did in the past decade. Without naming the billionaire who invested millions into HSV, Huwer said pointedly: “We don’t want external financing. We don’t want to enter new dependencies with investor money. We will do it on our own.”
Huwer sees Vuskovic’s transfer fee exceeding €70 million
However, HSV cannot yet afford to permanently sign loaned defender Luka Vuskovic, a current talent, especially if Tottenham Hotspur decides to sell him this summer. “My prediction is that €70 million will not be enough for him,” Huwer said—a sum far beyond HSV’s reach.
Still, the club hasn’t given up hope of seeing the brother of the doping-suspended Mario Vuskovic in an HSV shirt for another season. “He knows: if there’s a possibility, we’ll be there with open arms,” Huwer explained.
But the director also admitted that HSV might be too small for the defender: “He might be at a point where he wants to take the next step.”
HSV will not trigger Vieira’s purchase option
Among the six loan players, Fábio Vieira particularly impressed, with six goals and five assists making him HSV’s top scorer. Although the club holds a purchase option for the Portuguese, they will not activate it. “At that price, we can’t do it,” Huwer said, without disclosing the contractual fee, which media reports put at €20 million.
“We must be aware of where we come from and not repeat the mistakes of the past. We want to be ambitious but also humble and grounded,” Huwer stated, categorically ruling out such transfer fees.
However, if Arsenal shows flexibility regarding Vieira, “we are open to talks,” Huwer said, though he estimated the chances of the midfielder staying at “not above 50%.”
Huwer trusts the club’s transfer instincts
If Vuskovic and Vieira—two key performers this season—leave as expected, HSV must find adequate replacements. Huwer believes it is achievable.
“The restructuring won’t be as intense as last year. And I think we’ve proven we can do it. If we manage another transfer window with the same success rate as last year, no one needs to worry,” he said optimistically.
HSV women aiming for double Bundesliga survival
The HSV men have already secured their survival, and the women’s team hopes to do the same on Sunday against champions FC Bayern Munich. A point would be enough, and even a narrow loss would likely see them stay up, given their three-point lead and superior goal difference over 13th-placed SGS Essen.
Even in the unlikely event of relegation, Huwer confirmed that HSV will continue to support the women’s team. The fan response has been overwhelming, with nearly 25,000 expected for the match against FCB, pushing the season attendance beyond 100,000.
“That would make us number one in Germany and number two in Europe behind Arsenal. We are working on that,” Huwer said with pride. The HSV men’s team will also be present to support the women on Sunday, likely celebrating a successful first season after last summer’s double promotion.