According to Bild, sporting director Rouven Schröder has a budget of four million euros to fill the vacant post. The Foals would therefore not be put off by a compensation fee if they appoint a new coach.
One such fee would apply to Brian Priske of Sparta Prague, who, according to Danish newspaper Tipsbladet, is high on Gladbach's list. There are no precise details on the length of the 49-year-old Dane's contract with the Czech top-flight club. However, Sky and the Rheinische Post both report there is little in the rumours. He is probably not a serious option.
Elsewhere, Bild report that Alexander Blessin (most recently St. Pauli), Horst Steffen (SV Werder Bremen), Christian Eichner (Karlsruher SC) and Steffen Baumgart are also on Gladbach's list. Besides Schröder, his predecessor Roland Virkus is also working through it. He has been part of the Scouting & Recruitment directorate in the area of "coach scouting" since July. Baumgart's appointment, meanwhile, would carry a certain explosiveness.
Where was Steffen Baumgart most recently employed as a coach?
Before his spells in Berlin and at HSV, Baumgart had coached Gladbach's arch-rivals 1. FC Cologne of all clubs. In his first season, the now 54-year-old led the Billy Goats to a sensational seventh place, enough to qualify for the Conference League. In December 2023, the long-popular coach and Cologne parted ways after a sporting downturn, ending a spell of 98 matches.
Even with his past in Cologne, Baumgart fits the profile Gladbach want: an experienced coach who knows how to handle setbacks. The decision-makers also value the fact he has already studied Gladbach in depth and would not need to start by watching videos. The situation at the Foals is precarious after only three matchdays.
Getty ImagesWhere are Gladbach in the Bundesliga table?
After taking no points and posting a goal difference of 3:12, Gladbach sit 17th in the Bundesliga. Only the still goalless HSV are below them, with 0:12. Last weekend, Borussia turned in an alarming display at SC Freiburg and lost 0-5, which ultimately meant the end for Polanski.
Polanski, 40, had initially taken over on an interim basis last season after the dismissal of Gerardo Seoane. He was already under scrutiny before the start of the new campaign. After his promotion to head coach, he averaged just 1.10 points across 29 matches.