The winter transfer window opens in Germany on New Year’s Day. Not all clubs need major changes, however.
The winter transfer window in Germany opens on New Year’s Day, when the clubs can change their squad. In the Bundesliga, some clubs have one or two sales candidates in their squad, while others are looking for reinforcements. After the transfer has ended, no more actors may be committed. However, the players can still leave their club. For example, a Bundesliga professional can still switch to the English Premier League after 6 p.m. on January 31, 2022. There the transfer window does not close until 11:59 p.m. It is even possible to move to Russia or China by the end of February. This is the status of the 18 Bundesliga clubs before the start of the transfer window:
FC Bayern Munich: Winter transfers are not the topic of the German record champions. “Our squad is top-notch,” sports director Hasan Salihamidzic announced in advance. However, Munich has to clarify what should happen to Niklas Süle and Corentin Tolisso, whose contracts will expire in summer 2022. Süle has stabilized his performance under coach Julian Nagelsmann, Tolisso has never made himself indispensable in midfield. Michael Cuisance still has a contract until the summer of 2024, but according to the media, he should be facing a move to FC Venice in Serie A.
Borussia Dortmund: “Winter is not our transfer window,” said sporting director Michael Zorc. Big activities are therefore not to be expected. For cost reasons, BVB would like to give up the former goalkeeper Roman Bürki, who had been banished to the stands, in winter. Just like Reinier (19), who was on loan from Real Madrid until 2022. Zorc denied rumors about a separation from Axel Witsel. There is therefore no offer for the midfielder who is contractually bound until the summer.
Sc freiburg: Central defender Dominique Heintz has joined league rivals Union Berlin. From Standard Liège comes the Belgian U21 international Hugo Siquet, who can defend on the right in a back three or four. As things stand at the moment, the people of Baden have not planned any more transfer activities.
Bayer Leverkusen: In fourth place in the table, the situation is calm. “If no player wants to leave in winter because he has too little playing time, we won’t be active on the transfer market in winter,” said Simon Rolfes of the “kicker”. The sports director sees the squad as being well positioned in terms of quality and quantity. In addition, the comeback of long-term injuries Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Julian Baumgartlinger increases the selection for coach Gerardo Seoane.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: The squad is generously filled with 32 professionals, professionals such as Kasim Adams and Joshua Brenet, who have hardly been used so far, could be sold. The big question is whether Florian Grillitsch will stay: The strong Austrian wanted to go to Italy last year and is now under discussion at AS Roma. Since his contract expires in the summer, a winter change would be the chance for Hoffenheim to collect a high transfer fee.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Above all, top talent Faride Alidou from Hamburger SV is under discussion. The 20-year-old striker’s contract expires in the summer and would then be available for free. Eintracht may already get him in this winter transfer phase, then he should cost about half a million euros. Candidates for winter transfers are also center forward Randal Kolo Muani from FC Nantes and full-back Anthony Caci from Racing Strasbourg.
1. FC Union Berlin: Actually there is not much need for action with the Iron. Sports director Oliver Ruhnert doesn’t think much of loan deals for half a season. The offensive will have to do without goal-scorer Taiwo Awoniyi first and possibly until February. Ruhnert already has his Africa Cup participation in the back of his head for the upcoming transfer window.
1. FC Cologne: Table 8 sees a need for action. not really after a good first half of the season. But with professionals with perspective, the FC could be weak. “The players do not have to have proven a Bundesliga level. Players who are on the verge of this level are interesting for us, ”said Jörg Jakobs. With that, the sports director Faride Alidou from HSV could have meant, who is also said to have had an eye on Cologne. Noah Katterbach is considered a loan candidate.
1. FSV Mainz 05: New signings are not planned, it was said most recently by sports director Martin Schmidt. The team of successful coach Bo Svensson with full-back Anderson Lucoqui (knee) and Jeremiah St. Juste (shoulder) has some injury concerns. St. Juste will probably also be missing at the start of the second half of the season. It is also unclear when striker Adam Szalai will return after his operation.
RB Leipzig: New signings in winter were not planned at RB. It remains to be seen whether the new coach Domenico Tedesco will still be able to express wishes that will then be fulfilled. Rather, the Leipzigers are more about restoring inner peace in the cabin and giving dissatisfied bench press play practice. The loan of Brian Brobbey to Ajax Amsterdam is considered to be agreed, and that Talent Ilaix Moriba will soon be temporarily wearing a different jersey is not ruled out. A shaky candidate could also be Benjamin Henrichs, who was almost neglected under Jesse Marsch, but even made it into the starting eleven at Tedesco.
Hertha BSC: If only there was enough money. Hertha needs personnel improvements, Managing Director Fredi Bobic has been driving the changes in the squad since his arrival in the summer of last year. Some have already been sorted out. More could follow. There is speculation with a possible departure of Krzysztof Piatek, brought two years ago for 24 million euros from AC Milan and / or Lucas Tousart, who came from Olympique Lyon in 2020 for 25 million euros. Both could bring money into the till on a sale. And that could in turn be spent on new players, for example for reinforcements on the outside lanes.
VfL Bochum: According to Managing Director Sport Sebastian Schindzielorz, the newcomer has “little room for maneuver” and is looking at the market primarily for reinforcement for the offensive. “The break is short, you have to take that into account. So you need players who need a short start-up phase. It will continue at the beginning of January. That makes the transfer window special, ”said Schindzielorz. Players with short periods of play such as Saulo Decarli, Raman Chibsah, Tom Weilandt or Tarsis Bonga are considered possible departures.
VfL Wolfsburg: Two serious injuries in December could change the Wolfsburg’s defensive transfer plans again: There is a need in the back left after Paulo Otavio’s knee operation. And in the attack, VfL could act again after Lukas Nmecha’s ankle injury. One candidate is the only 18-year-old US storm talent Ricardo Pepi from FC Dallas. Another topic in every transfer period is the possible departure of center forward Wout Weghorst. The failure of Nmecha is likely to reduce Wolfsburg’s willingness to talk.
Borussia Monchengladbach: The transfer-free loss of Denis Zakaria and Matthias Ginter next summer not only affects Borussia economically, but also forces sports director Max Eberl to reorganize. It remains questionable whether a club can be found for both players in winter and thus at least a little transfer fee can be achieved. Eberl can only invest with income from further sales. Marcus Thuram or Hannes Wolf would be candidates, even in winter. A new central defender will be needed by the summer at the latest, the replacement for Zakaria has actually already been found in Manu Koné. One player, Jordan Beyer, has already extended his contract with Borussia, and Patrick Herrmann is to follow. In theory, the current squad could also be the one for the second half of the season.
FC Augsburg: Coach Markus Weinzierl relies on the returnees in the storm. Alfred Finnbogason and Florian Niederlechner should be available again for FC Augsburg in January. Injuries had thwarted the duo again and again recently. Finnbogason was only able to play three Bundesliga games in the first half of the season, Niederlechner at least eleven. Manager Stefan Reuter will continue to follow the market closely even in the storm, because the FCA lacked the penetration power again and again in the series.
VfB Stuttgart: The Swabians are not planning any new signings and are relying fully on their returnees in the relegation battle – especially on the offensive forces Silas Katompa Mvumpa and Sasa Kalajdzic, who have been injured for a long time. But there will “certainly be one or the other exit,” said coach Pellegrino Matarazzo shortly before the winter break. In the first half of the season he benefited from the large VfB squad in view of the many setbacks caused by injuries and illnesses. In general, however, the coach prefers a slightly narrower line-up.
Arminia Bielefeld: “We are economically positioned to be able to do something in one position or the other,” said sports director Samir Arabi. There is a need on the offensive. After all, the penultimate is the second worst attack in the league with just 14 goals. In the relegation battle, veteran Gonzalo Castro should also help. The last 34-year-old midfielder without a club signed until the end of the season. The only 17-year-old Turk Burak Ince is more of a perspective player.
SpVgg Greuther Fürth: “We have to worry,” said sporting director Rachid Azzouzi with a view to the miserable first half of the season. Most recently, Loris Karius, who should have no future at Liverpool FC, was traded as the new goalkeeper. After Marius Funk was injured, Fürth currently only has one experienced keeper in Sascha Burchert. A defender should also reinforce the worst defensive in the league. After Nils Seufert and Hans Nunoo Sarpei, other players with short playing times, such as Adrian Fein and Abdourahmane Barry, are considered as departures.
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