Berlin (dpa) – The desire to buy this winter has fallen financially to about a quarter compared to the previous year. At that time, clubs invested almost 200 million euros at the halfway point of the season, this time it’s less than 50 million for less than 20 players.
SAMI KHEDIRA: Does Sami Khedira remember one of his opponents on his Bundesliga debut? On October 1, 2006, the then 19-year-old will play with VfB Stuttgart in the Olympic Stadium against Hertha BSC. A certain Pal Dardai was there with the Berliners. When Khedira returns to the Bundesliga as ex-world champion and Hertha hopeful on Friday after more than ten years, Dardai will be his coach. The 33-year-old had no future at Juventus Turin. “I know his leadership qualities and am therefore very happy that we now have him under contract with Hertha BSC,” said Arne Friedrich. Hertha’s sports director was there on October 1st, 2006 and scored a goal for Berliners in a 2-2 draw.
SKHODRAN MUSTAFI: Khedira is not the only former world champion to play in the Bundesliga in the future. In a last-minute deal, FC Schalke 04 brought Mustafi from Arsenal, closing the gap left by Ozan Kabak’s late departure to Liverpool. At the age of 28, Mustafi is a newcomer to Germany’s top division. He comes from the youth of Hamburger SV, moved abroad early on and played first class in Italy, Spain and England, but never in Germany.
KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR / SEAD KOLASINAC: In addition to Huntelaar, Kolasinac from Arsenal FC is returning to his former club on loan. Small investment, big hope. “It would be unwise if we didn’t use Huntelaar’s experience. Of course we expect goals from him. He’ll shoot them too, ”said Schalke coach Christian Gross. In 240 competitive games from 2010 to 2017, the “Hunter” scored 126 goals for Schalke. Kolasinac immediately received the captain’s armband with the Royal Blues. “He has a lot of influence, the others can use him for support,” said Gross.
LUKA JOVIC: Frankfurt’s new, old striker Luka Jovic always came off the bench in his four appearances for Eintracht. The Serb is currently on loan from Real Madrid for half a year back to Hessen – he had a dream debut and scored immediately. Sports director Fredi Bobic sees the return as a “win-win situation”, but currently does not want to speculate about a possible buyback. “You can always have dreams, that’s completely normal,” said Bobic at Sky. Jovic has already scored three goals for Frankfurt.
MAX MEYER: At first, Max Meyer’s career was almost all up. At 18 he was almost world champion, but national coach Joachim Löw deleted him from his provisional line-up shortly before the 2014 World Cup. After saying goodbye to Schalke in the 2018 dispute, there were two and a half difficult years at Crystal Palace in England. His old Schalke confidante Horst Heldt gave Meyer, as head of sports at 1. FC Cologne, the chance to recommend himself again for higher things in the Bundesliga. A return to Schalke following the example of Kolasinac and Huntelaar was not an issue, the 25-year-old assured: “There was no request.”
DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI: The most expensive purchase this winter was already clear before the transfer window opened on January 1st. The young Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, whom RB Leipzig brought from RB Salzburg, cost 20 million euros. The newly crowned Hungarian “Sportsman of the Year” signed a contract until 2025. He is already the 18th professional to move directly from Salzburg to Leipzig. Real Madrid, AC Milan and Arsenal FC were also interested in the 20-year-old.
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