Well, what a joy it is to be talking about transfer news again, rather than if and when football might resume.
For the Bundesliga came back with a bang at the weekend and, while it may not have pleased everyone, it was certainly something which boosted football fans in the country and made many people smile again.
It is only a start and there may yet be a reaction; a negative health response to the return would surely hold up competitive action in its tracks once more and, as far as 2019/20 is concerned, probably for good.
Indeed, the coming week will present new challenges, as the players return to their homes and families before the next fixtures.
But for now, at least, we have some form of football.
In Italy, the news did not go down well with one club owner.
In fact, the man who holds the purse strings at Serie A outfit Udinese, Giampaolo Pozzo, has accused the league of ‘starting off in the worst possible way’ and ‘marketing it as a success’.
Yes, the Bundesliga became the first major European league to resume with much of the football world tuning in and upholding the Germans as the example to follow.
‘It’s proof that if you don’t prepare properly, you pay the price. This is all with one game a week, when we should make two, so it would take a squad of 30 players to get to the end of the season, just to cushion all the blows.
‘I think it’s an insult to our intelligence. After two-and-a-half months of non-training at home, players need more time, at least a month, to get back into shape and feel assured.’
Perhaps he had a point. Yet the reality is that the Bundesliga didn’t rush towards a resumption. It was effectively at its return-to-training stage on April 8, returning to playing only 38 days later.
The fact we have more Bundesliga highlights to enjoy, after a two month hiatus, and can take a punt – using the SBOBET Bundesliga betting odds of course – will lift the spirits of many.
For beyond the wet-wiping of balls, electronic sensors to maintain a 1.5 metre distance between non-playing workers and the taking of journalists’ temperatures, this was a TV hit.
“Gedämpfte Freude” – muffled joy – was how the headline in Monday’s edition of Kicker put it, set across a photo of Borussia Dortmund’s players saluting a cavernous, empty Südtribune after their emphatic 4-0 Revierderby win over Schalke on Saturday afternoon.
The threat of matches being immediately abandoned if fans turn up en masse outside the ground also seemed to act as a deterrent.
Supporters, as much as anyone, know that if they don’t follow guidelines they will only be harming the product they love.
Beyond the hygiene protocol, the long-term health of the Bundesliga will remain under close scrutiny as it continues to spread its wings like never before.
What’s more, if football is back, it means so will be the transfer rumours.
Aside from the usual speculation linking Jadon Sancho with a move to Manchester United and Tino Werner with a transfer to Liverpool, there are some new rumours.
Most notably 20 year-old Kai Havertz who is being linked with a move away from Bayer Leverkusen. He bagged another brace on Monday night in the 4-1 win over Werder Bremen, taking his total to eight goals for the campaign so far.
The future of Bayern Munich star Corentin Tolisso, whose time with the German champions has been seriously hampered by injury, is also much talked about.
A product of the Olympique Lyon youth academy, Tolisso is the second most expensive signing in the history of the club.
Yet, it’s not just outgoings.
Highly-rated Ajax right-back Sergino Dest is being linked with a move to a collection of top European clubs, including Bayern.
The 19 year-old is widely regarded as one of the best upcoming full-backs in European football after racking up a total of 35 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch giants this season.
And then there’s the renewed speculation surrounding Leroy Sane and a possible return to Germany.
Such a move would be a massive loss for Manchester City with Bayern reported to be preparing to launch a fresh £50 million bid.
For the moment though, it’s only rumours to whet your appetite.
That in itself, is more than we’ve had to feast on for some time and we should be grateful.
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