Hitzfeld urges Bremen to splash the cash

The former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld fears it will be another torrid season for Werder Bremen if they do not invest some of the money earned from the sale of Diego in a striker like Claudio Pizarro. Pizarro spent last season on loan at Bremen from Chelsea, but he has since returned to the Blues while Bremen dither over whether to make the move permanent. After selling Diego to Juventus for over ?20 million (Dh104m), Bremen do have the cash to match Chelsea's asking price, but they have appeared reluctant to part with any money this summer. According to Hitzfeld, they are risking another average season if they do not make their move soon. "If Pizarro stays, then Werder could even challenge for the title," Hitzfeld told the Weser Kurier newspaper. "Whether or not Pizarro remains is the decisive component in my opinion." Marko Marin has been brought in from Bundesliga rivals Borussia Monchengladbach while Tim Borowski is close to a return to the north of Germany, but Hitzfeld, who won Bundesliga titles with both Dortmund and Bayern, does not feel the midfield requires any more tinkering. "They need a strong striker or goalscorer," added the current Switzerland coach, who knows Pizarro from their days together at Bayern.

* PA Sport