So that was the Bundesliga transfer window!
It was more of slow burner over the summer than a manic Monday rush on deadline day, but it still saw some impressive additions to the squads of Germany’s top flight.
Transfer Hits and Misses
One transfer, of course, stood out above all others.
The capture by champions Bayern Munich of Philippe Coutinho on a season-long loan is undoubtedly the headline transfer of the summer and one which is already setting pulses racing in Bavaria.
He will be expected to create Bundesliga 2019 highlights over the next nine months and is bound to become a crowd favourite if he regains his best form.
His first start in a Bayern shirt actually coincided with a scoreline this SBOBET reporter wasn’t expecting as Mainz were hit for six at the weekend.
What caught my eye as an equally as impressive move was the acquisition of Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan.
Here was a player who was one of the finest at the World Cup in Russia last summer and it can be forgotten that he is someone who knows the league, having won the double with Borussia Dortmund in 2011/12.
He later won the German Cup and finished runner-up to Bayern in 2016 during a three-year stay at Wolfsburg. He has now returned to Germany on loan from Inter Milan, with whom he scored 37 league goals over four seasons.
The Bundesliga 2019 betting odds will be on both these attacking talents signing permanent deals with Bayern if the loan deals work out successfully.
There is no question Bayern have had a terrific summer and seem to have smartly replaced the popular Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery – two of the club’s modern-day greats.
They’ve similarly strengthened their defence with the recruitment of Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid and Benjamin Pavard. The two are players who are yet to reach their prime, and, in the latter’s case, someone who will be keen to show that the performances he displayed at the highest level for France are not a one-off.
Moving away from Bayern, Borussia Dortmund managed to keep hold of Jadon Sancho, despite speculation galore, while the return of Mats Hummels from Bayern is one of the moves of the summer as last season’s runners-up look to go one better.
With over 300 Bundesliga appearances to his name, the 2014 World Cup winner is a massive addition to a youthful backline that at times lost focus last season.
Having said that, their early-season setback at newly-promoted Union Berlin was an undoubted setback.
The acquisition of Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen is another ideal fit for Dortmund’s attacking play, whether as part of the forward line-up or in his newfound central midfield role.
The other move that caught my eye was their signing of Thorgan Hazard from Borussia Mönchengladbach as they reinvested the money they received for Christian Pulisic.
The Belgian was one of Gladbach’s key performers during his five seasons at Borussia-Park, averaging a goal or an assist almost every other game over the course of his 182 competitive appearances.
If he can emulate that with Dortmund, they will be undoubtedly stronger.
Biggest Winners
It certainly seems Bayern are the biggest winners and Dortmund have recruited astutely but there are other potential winners also.
Luka Jovic, Sebastien Haller and Ante Rebic have moved on, but the arrival of Bas Dost will help lighten the load at Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Dutchman will be a familiar face to Bundesliga audiences of a certain vintage, having hit 48 goals in 117 appearances for Wolfsburg before moving to Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon in 2016.
Watch out also for Andre Silva on a two-year loan move from AC Milan as part of the Rebic deal.
A move that excites me is Dodi Lukebakio’s permanent deal with Hertha Berlin. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Fortuna Dusseldorf from Watford and scored a historic hat-trick against Manuel Neuer in a 3-3 draw against Bayern and also scored a goal to end Dortmund’s undefeated run.
Two surprises to finish.
Veteran full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner has joined Augsburg from Arsenal.
The Switzerland international has won multiple titles down the years and has all the necessary credentials to help retain his new employers’ safety in the top flight.
USA first-choice goalkeeper Zack Steffen is back in German football on a season-long loan with Fortuna Düsseldorf from Manchester City. Watch out for him too – could be a smart move.
Biggest Losers
I fear that if Dost gets injured, Frankfurt may be in trouble. He is a proven scorer but, at the age of 32, it is a big ask for him and Silva to replace the goalscoring the now-departed three provided.
While I would hardly class this move in the category of a loser either, I remain unconvinced Marko Grujic will have the same impression on loan at Hertha Berlin that he did last season.
The Serbia international, on loan from Liverpool, has seen his early trajectory checked by injury and I’m unsure whether he can have the same impact. Why would his parent club allow him to depart otherwise?
What’s next?
As for what next, it’s too early to say but expect the champions to go from strength to strength at home and abroad. As Perisic says himself, the standard of football in this division is only going in one direction.
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