The Bundesliga transfer window closed yesterday amidst a trickle of late deals… rather than an avalanche, but there have been some interesting deals in the German top flight, and Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt have come out pretty well.
BVB are making a move on the top four and they have made two smart moves in the market, bringing Jadon Sancho back to the club and signing an exciting attacking wingback in Ian Maatsen, on loan.
Sancho is already a big name in Dortmund after he made over 100 appearances for the club when he signed from Manchester City in 2017. He scored 15 goals and made 16 assists in the calendar year of 2019 and soon became one of the hottest prospects in the Bundesliga, which earned him a £73m move to Manchester United in 2021. Things haven’t worked out for the England international at Old Trafford and he jumped at the chance to return to the Signal Iduna Park in January. A versatile forward, Sancho can operate as a second striker or a winger and his pace, trickery and eye for goal could cause mayhem if you add confidence into the mix, which has been the missing ingredient during his time in Manchester.
Wingback Ian Maatsen has joined on loan from Chelsea and he’s already made an impression in his three appearances so far. The 21-year-old Netherlands U21 star spent last season on loan at Burnley, making 39 appearances and scoring four goals as the Clarets stormed back to the Premier League. He declined a permanent move to Turf Moor and returned to Stamford Bridge where he has made a few substitute appearances but he will get more game time in Dortmund.
Meanwhile, in other Bundesliga 2024 news Eintracht Frankfurt have been busy strengthening their squad as they prepare a second half of the season push. They are currently in sixth place in the table and in the European frame, and three January additions will strengthen their hand for the months ahead. After impressing in the first half of the season defender Robin Koch has made his move from Leeds United permanent, and a 27-year-old with eight caps for Germany is a solid addition.
On the creative side midfielder Donny Van de Beek has arrived in Frankfurt from Manchester United while Wolves striker Sasa Kaladjzic has also joined the Eagles on loan. Van de Beek in particular will be ready for a new challenge to reignite his career; at 26 years of age he is coming into his prime and Frankfurt fans will hope he can replicate his form as an Ajax player where he first became a hot property.
The other big moves that caught our eye here at SBOTOP were in Munich, where Eric Dier arrived on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, and in Leipzig where Red Bull signed Napoli winger Eljif Elmas. The latest Bundesliga 2024 betting odds rate Bayern as favourites to win the title and the addition of utility man Dier will do them no harm at all, while Elmas is an exciting addition for Red Bull as they make their challenge for a top four place.
Deadline day deals
After a spectacular first half of the campaign VfB Stuttgart have been sliding a little in recent weeks, and they have been missing star striker Serhou Guirassy while he was at AFCON. But VfB made the standout signing on 1st February as Mahmoud Dahoud arrived on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion. The 28-year-old midfielder has joined the Bundesliga club with an option to make the move permanent, and he’s back in Germany after just a six month absence since he left Borussia Dortmund for pastures new.
Bayern had agreed to bring 22-year-old Spanish winger Bryan Zaragoza from Granada to the German league next summer, but the rising star arrived earlier than expected as the deal completed on deadline day, which is good news for Bayern striker Harry Kane. Chrstoph Freund, the club’s sporting director said: “In football you always have to be flexible, and so we’ve reacted to the current situation, and we’re happy that Bryan is joining us earlier than agreed.”
Elsewhere, Werder Bremen have signed Manchester United youth player Isak Hansen- Aaroen; and the first deal of the day completed in Mainz, where 23-year-old attacker Jessic Ngankam arrived on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt until the end of the season. He’s scored 11 goals in he Bundesliga and Ngankam will give the Mainz attack a boost as they battle the threat of relegation. He’s a physical player with hunger for goals and that’s just what Mainz need right now.
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