Overview
- The club is entering the second half of the 3. Liga season as a promotion candidate, according to local coverage.
- NRZ reports that four attackers, including Marvin Obuz and Ahmet Arslan, are under pressure to improve in January with contract implications.
- WAZ reports advanced talks for a striker from the 2. Liga, with Kaiserslautern's Dickson Abiama cited as a leading candidate, though no deal is confirmed.
- A fresh WAZ report says Essen are actively seeking a new center-back as a winter exit for Luca Bazzoli becomes more concrete.
- Reporting indicates a plan to add three players in this window, with the first signing for the Rückrunde described as close.