Mainz 05, in something of a reversal of the operating plan earlier this summer, are working to bring Austrian international Stefan Posch back to the Bundesliga on a permanent basis. Sky Germany reports that the Rheinhessen club have opened negotiations with Serie A side Como 1907 following the conclusion of Posch's successful six-month loan. Mainz are reportedly prepared to stretch their financial limits to secure the 29-year-old defender.
Mainz were recently buoyed by the fact that Nadiem Amiri opted to remain with the club through the entirety of the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign. Signing Posch would constitute another major coup. Thanks to the fact that the club's front office has been largely frugal on the summer transfer market, the Palatinate club is currently operating with an estimated €5.2m transfer surplus.
Mainz first explored a move for Posch during the winter transfer window after he struggled for regular playing time in Italy. The final transaction ultimately required cooperation between three clubs. Como activated an obligation to purchase Posch from Bologna for approximately €5.5m before immediately loaning the defender to Mainz for the remainder of the campaign.
Mainz did not secure a purchase option. The Bundesliga club reportedly paid a loan fee of approximately €200,000, leaving M05 sporting CEO Christian Heidel and his colleagues needing to negotiate an entirely new agreement this summer.
Posch nevertheless made an immediate impact. He started against Wolfsburg only two days after his arrival and delivered a composed performance in a crucial victory, as noted in Get German Football News' Mainz January transfer check.

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In a sport of headers and constant collisions, a fractured jaw would seem like a tournament-ending injury.
Not so much at the 2026 World Cup.
Austria defender Stefan Posch and England defender Djed Spence stand out on the field for the black jaw braces they have been wearing in matches.
Players have long had to wear face protections for injuries like fractured cheek bones or broken noses.
Frances’ Kylian Mbappé wore a face mask during the 2024 European Championship after breaking his nose in the opening match. Former Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech wore a helmet for years after a near fatal collision and skull injury during a match.

Ralf Rangnick's Austria face Algeria in the crucial Group J fixture. Both teams came into the last round of the group stage with three points as they both beat debutant Jordan and lost to Lionel Messi's Argentina.
A draw would send both to the Round of 32 with Austria getting a second place finish thanks to their superior goal difference. There are a total of eleven Bundesliga stars from the two lineups as the German coach picked eight German-based players in his XI.
Austria XI: Schlager; Posch, Lienhart, Alaba ©, Mwene; Seiwald, Schlager; Schmid, Laimer, Sabitzer; Arnautovic
Algeria XI: Benbot; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Hadjam; Aouar, Maza, Bentaleb; Mahrez ©, Gouiri, Chaïbi

Algeria and Austria clash this Sunday at the AT&T Stadium of the World Cup. The match will be broadcast live at 03:00 on BBC Two.
In their last match, Algeria prevailed 1-2 against Jordan (World Cup 2026). In their last encounter, Austria were beaten 2-0 by Argentina (World Cup 2026).
Algeria ( vs Jordan 2026-06-23): Luca Zidane, Rafik Belghali, Aïssa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Hicham Boudaoui, Ibrahim Maza, Ramiz Zerrouki, Riyad Mahrez, Amine Gouiri, Farès Chaïbi
Austria ( vs Argentina 2026-06-22): Alexander Schlager, Stefan Posch, Kevin Danso, David Alaba, Konrad Laimer, Romano Schmid, Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, Marcel Sabitzer, Michael Gregoritsch, Paul Wanner

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Austria defender Stefan Posch will be available to play Monday against defending champion Argentina after sustaining a broken jaw in his team's win to open this World Cup.
Coach Ralf Rangnick said Sunday that Posch, who went through full training the day before the match, had to go to Los Angeles twice to get fitted for a protective jaw brace that will allow him to play despite the injury. Posch didn't need surgery.
"He is ready to play tomorrow just like every and any other player," Rangnick said through an interpreter. "Then we will see if he will start tomorrow, or maybe he will be brought in during the match."
Posch injured his jaw after colliding with a Jordanian player in Austria's 3-1 win in its Group J opener on Tuesday in Santa Clara, California. That was Austria's first win in the international tournament in 36 years.
It was initially feared that the 29-year-old Mainz defender would miss the rest of the World Cup.

Austria defender Stefan Posch has broken his jaw but could still play again at the World Cup, the nation's football federation ÖFB said on Thursday.
Posch suffered the injury confirmed in a scan when he collided with opponent Odeh Al-Fakhouri during Tuesday's 3-1 win over Jordan.
The ÖFB said he doesn't require surgery and will get a special splint but "it remains to be seen if he will be ready to play in the next group match against Argentina."
Austria play the defending champions on Monday and their final group game against Algeria is on June 27.

Austria and Jordan clash this Wednesday at the Levi´s Stadium of the World Cup. This will be Jordan's World Cup debut. As for Austria's national team, this will mark their 8th participation in the competition. The match will be broadcast live at 05:00 on BBC One.
In their last fixture, Austria won 1-0 against Tunisia (National Team Friendlies 2026). In their last encounter, Jordan were beaten 2-0 by Colombia (National Team Friendlies 2026).
Austria ( vs Tunisia 2026-06-01): Alexander Schlager, Stefan Posch, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba, Konrad Laimer, Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, Romano Schmid, Michael Gregoritsch, Marcel Sabitzer, Marko Arnautovic
Jordan ( vs Colombia 2026-06-08): Yazeed Abulaila, Ihsan Haddad, Saleem Obaid, Mohannad Abu, Abdallah Nasib, Yazan Al-Arab, Moussa Al-Tamari, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Odeh Al Fakhouri, Ali Al Olwan