The 2012-13 German Bundesliga season kicks off on Friday evening with plenty of talk about title contenders with Shinji Kagawa’s departure leaving Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Schalke among the favourites.
Here’s Sports Pundit’s top 10 off-season transfers;
10. Dante - Borussia Monchengladbach to Bayern Munich, 4.7m
Bayern have brought in the big Brazilian centre-back to boost their backline, which has been one of their problems in recent times. After several positive seasons with Standard Liege and Monchengladbach, who finished fourth last term, the 28-year-old steps up to a genuine giant.
9. Theodor Gebre Selassie - Slovan Liberec to Werder Bremen, 2m
The Czech Republic international had an exceptional Euro 2012 tournament, alerting European suitors to his quality, with Werder snapping him up. The Trebic-born full-back, whose parents hail from Ethiopia, is 25-years-old and has spent several years toiling away in his homeland with little-known Slovan Liberec, but is a late bloomer and you fancy we’ll see him marauding down the flank often this term.
8. Eren Derdiyok - Bayer Leverkusen to Hoffenheim, Undisclosed
The Switzerland international decided to join Hoffenheim in May despite some stellar form at Leverkusen which had won him alot of admirers. Derdiyok is an exciting talent who scores some tremendous goals. At only 24, Hoffenheim will be delighted to have signed him on a four-year deal.
7. Luuk de Jong - FC Twente to Borussia Monchengladbach, 15m
Monchengladbach certainly had some cash to spend after selling Marco Reus to Dortmund, but few expected them to outlay 15 million euros on one player alone. However, talented Dutch 21-year-old attacker de Jong is a suitable purchase, after some super form in the Eredivisie, netting 25 goals last term.
6. Eljero Elia - Juventus to Werder Bremen, 5.5m
The Dutch winger returns to Germany after only one season in Italy having joined Juve from Hamburg in August 2011. Elia didn’t have a good time in Turin and will hope to find his sparkle against in North-West Germany with a Werder side set on rebuilding. A huge talent who promises plenty.
5. Tranquillo Barnetta - Bayer Leverkusen to Schalke, Free
Barnetta opted to leave Leverkusen on a free transfer and ink a three-year deal with Schalke in a move which boosts the Gelsenkirchen club’s title hopes. The 27-year-old Swiss is a player well experienced at this level and has shown he’s more than capable of mixing it with the best.
4. Xherdan Shaqiri - FC Basel to Bayern Munich, 12m
The Swiss midfielder is a plenty who has won plenty of rave reviews for his performances with Basel and arrives at Bayern with the promise of more progress. Shaqiri, only 20, is a winger with plenty of pace and skill which should dazzle Bundesliga defences. The Bavarians do already have Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on the wings, but surely they’ll find a place for this tricky customer.
3. Bas Dost - Heerenveen to Wolfsburg, 8m
Wolfsburg have made a habit of curious purchases in the past few seasons, but Dost arrives at Volkswagen Arena with plenty of hype after topping the Dutch Eredivisie goalscoring charts last term with 32 strikes. The 23-year-old Dutch striker is a tall but classy footballer, with good control. He should be able to handle the step-up to the Bundesliga and perhaps help the Wolves re-discover their title credentials.
2. Mario Mandzukic - Wolfsburg to Bayern Munich, 13m
Bayern have boosted their frontline as well, with the 13 million euro addition of Croatia international Mandzukic, who had done good things at Wolfsburg without being prolific. Mandzukic managed 20 Bundesliga goals in the past two seasons, while his three strikes for Croatia at Euro 2012 boosted his profile too. Mandzukic is still relatively young at 26 and capable of leading the line.
1. Marco Reus - Borussia Monchengladbach to Borussia Dortmund, 17.1m
There’s room for debate that Reus’ arrival at Dortmund has been hotly anticipated. The talented 23-year-old had been chased by Jurgen Klopp’s side for some time before they eventually sealed his signature midway through last season, agreeing to join them for the 2012-13 campaign. The wait is now over, with the striker/winger ready to fill Shinji Kagawa’s gap and provide the attacking edge for the champions.