Six Red Bulls are this season out on loan in order to take the next step in their development towards playing a full part in our squad someday. We don't have to cast our net too far and wide to find out how they have been doing.
In Samson Tijani, Lukas Ibertsberger, Mamadou Sangare and Raphael Hofer, four of our boys have remained in the Austrian Bundesliga. Kilian Ludewig is in the nearby south of Germany at 1860 Munich while Ignace Van der Brempt is a little further away in Hamburg.
The season so far for our loanees …
Ignace Van der Brempt (SV Hamburg)
Hamburg visited us for a friendly match in Anif in the summer at the end of their pre-season training camp. Despite our boys winning 4-1, the visitors did not return to Hamburg empty-handed - as they took along right-back Ignace Van der Brempt.
The loan could not have gone any better so far! Inni has won a firm place in the hearts of Hamburg fans already. In their opening match of the season against Schalke, the Belgian U21 international set up the winning goal and has been named in the Kicker XI for the best players of 2 Bundesliga after several matchdays - playing every single minute of league action for SV Hamburg so far this season.
Ignace could be a key puzzle for Hamburg as they seek to finally return to the German top flight this season after six years away.
Kilian Ludewig (TSV 1860 Munich)
Also busy trying to prove himself in Germany has been Kilian Ludewig. The 23-year-old was not blessed with great fortune at the start of his loan, but the past few weeks have gone better. The winger made his first start in the third division at the end of September, and a few days later played 60 minutes.
He was a substitute again in the last match of TSV 1860 Munich, who are currently 13th in the table.
Samson Tijani & Lukas Ibertsberger (Wolfsberg AC)
Wolfsberg AC gained a brace of loan signings from us in the summer. The Carinthians first secured the services of Lukas Ibertsberger for a year. The academy talent did not enjoy the faith of coach Manfred Schmid right from the start, however. The full-back has needed to make some appearances for Wolfsberg's second-string side in the Central Regional League before gaining a slice of Bundesliga action. The 20-year-old was finally able to gain some top-flight playing time in the final two matches before the international break against LASK (64 minutes/1 assist) and against Sturm Graz (79 minutes).
Shortly before the end of the transfer period, Samson Tijani also went on loan to WAC. The specialist midfielder made his debut in a 1-2 defeat to us and has played in all matches since for Wolfsberg, who are currently in seventh.
Mamadou Sangare (TSV Hartberg)
TSV Hartberg are having an incredible season so far in fourth place in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga. Mamadou Sangare has been a regular on his second season on loan to Hartberg. The 21-year-old from Mali did get a red card though in his first appearance since signing again on loan and missed two matches suspended.
Coach Markus Schopp has not wanted to leave the midfield dynamo out since – either as a substitute or in the starting XI. Mamadou has not been involved in any goals yet, but the way Hartberg are going, that can only be a matter of time.
Raphael Hofer (FC Blau-Weiß Linz)
The 20-year-old has made a few appearances for Bundesliga new boys Blau-Weiß Linz early in the season, but the Austrian U21 international has not appeared for several weeks. The youngster from Upper Austria has a chance over the international break to hopefully gain some confidence and make a case for his inclusion again in Gerald Scheiblehner's side.
