The transfer window is open – but the Bundesliga managers are just waiting.
The extraordinary World Cup during Advent in Qatar got the market “on the move in a completely different way” and caused an “unusual transfer period”, as Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl explained. Sports director Fredi Bobic from Hertha BSC also spoke of a “very difficult month” in January, in which “a lot could go wrong”.
The clubs have been acting cautiously since the start of the winter transfer phase on New Year’s Day, especially since the coffers are far from being filled to the level they were in before the Corona virus. The loan of Freiburger Keven Schlotterbeck to VfL Bochum, the free transfer of Hertha striker Davie Selke to Cologne – these transfers do not radiate glamor. The World Cup stars are traded elsewhere, for example Liverpool FC with coach Jürgen Klopp brought in Dutchman Cody Gakpo. The already unrealistic hopes of some Bundesliga fans for Cristiano Ronaldo were shattered with his highly lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia.
Emergency buyers in Munich
The search for a new goalkeeper has top priority for the German record champions. After Manuel Neuer’s injury, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann would like to welcome the new keeper to the training camp that the Munich team will be moving to in Doha from Friday. The preferred candidate is now Yann Sommer from Borussia Mönchengladbach, whose contract expires in the summer. A premature return of Alexander Nübel, who was loaned to AS Monaco, is considered unlikely according to his recent statements (“It makes little sense”).
Selling out at Gladbach?
The team from the Lower Rhine could become a transfer hotspot this January. Not only Sommer’s contract expires at the end of the season, but also those of Marcus Thuram and Rami Bensebaini. There is a threat of free transfers, Gladbach has – as of now – only in this January the opportunity to generate transfer fees for the three top performers. In sporting terms, however, it would weaken the team considerably. According to reports, there are numerous interested parties. World Cup participant Thuram is said to be traded at Inter Milan, Juventus Turin and FC Bayern.
Lots of speculation about BVB
Bensebaini is considered a candidate for Borussia Dortmund, which is traditionally rarely active in winter. “But if it has to be, we will also act,” said Kehl. The BVB sports director currently has to moderate the many speculations about young star Youssoufa Moukoko, whose contract expires at the end of the season. And the personality of Jude Bellingham, who aroused desires in his native England with strong performances before the World Cup, is also a topic of conversation in Dortmund.
training league
The forthcoming transfer of Danish World Cup striker Kasper Dolberg to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim should bring a little international glamor to the league – but that’s the exception. So far, the transfers, especially of young professionals from abroad, underline the image of the Bundesliga as a training league.
19-year-old Paxten Aaronson (USA) from New Frankfurt and Belgian Arne Engels, who is the same age and who may be moving to FC Augsburg this winter, want to become stars in the Bundesliga like former Dortmunders Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho. And the Bundesliga clubs are hoping for a high resale value.
However, the new World Cup stars are traded outside of the Bundesliga. Liverpool, among others, are courting Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat from FC Florence, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez from Benfica Lisbon is also in great demand in the Premier League and at Real Madrid after being named the best young professional in the World Cup.
