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Transfer window: thrifty Bundesliga clubs and a late e-mail

February 2, 2016

It was a relatively cheap winter transfer window for Bundesliga clubs this year. Bayern Munich picked up a bit of last-minute defensive cover, while a Hamburg purchase fell through due to a late e-mail.

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Fußballspieler Serdar Tasci
Image: picture-alliance/augenklick/firo Sportphoto

Spending by the 18 Bundesliga clubs was well below the record high of 65 million euros ($71 million) that they spent during the transfer window in 2015, with an estimated 48 million euros changing hands for 43 players. Around eight million of that was spent on loans. Even last year's record was nothing compared to the Premier League clubs, who spent more than 170 million euros this transfer window and the Chinese Super League, which spent even more (202 million euros).

Despite their relative reluctance to open up the purse strings this winter, the Bundesliga clubs still spent 16.5 million euros more than they took in, with 30 million euros, or 60 percent, of what they spent going abroad.

Tasci to the rescue

The most notable transfer to come together on deadline day was somewhat unexpected, as Bayern Munich, despite their back four being severely depleted by injuries to Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez, having claimed just hours early that they would not dip into the market.

"There is no quality on the market, there are no good players," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge declared.

Shortly before the deadline though, Bayern announced that they had signed former Stuttgart and German national team defender Serdar Tasci on loan from Spartak Moscow - for an estimated fee of 2.5 million euros - with an option to buy.

Perhaps he wasn't available at the time that Rummenigge spoke, because after the deal was through, sporting director Matthias Sammer stressed that Bayern were convinced that with his "quality and experience, the 28-year-old Tasci could provide the side with the help that they need."

Fußball Bundesliga 1. FC Köln vs Borussia Mönchengladbach
Drmic tries to kickstart his career with Hamburg, his fourth club in three yearsImage: Reuters/I. Fassbender

Two out of three for Hamburg

Hamburger SV, looking to ensure that they don't wind up in relegation trouble again, brought in Josip Drmic on loan from Broussia Mönchengladbach, hoping that the striker can rediscover the scoring touch that he once displayed in Nuremberg. They also purchased Swedish wide attacker Nabil Bahoui.

They also tried to bring in defensive midfielder Sekou Sanogo from Young Boys Bern, but somehow, according to Hamburg, the paperwork came through four minutes late. In a statement posted on Hamburg's website, sporting director Peter Knäbel seemed to point the finger at the Swiss.

"Unfortunately the required documents were sent too late," said Knäbel. "This is very annoying. I feel sorry for the player."

Sekou Sanogo BSC Young Boys Fußball
Sekou Sanogo wanted to go to Hamburg, but technology got in the wayImage: picture-alliance/dpa/K.McManus

E-mail turned snail mail

In a report posted on the website of Swiss tabloid "Blick" though, Knäbel's counterpart, Fredy Bickel insisted that he had sent the documents by e-mail at 17:54 - six minutes ahead of the deadline. For reasons that are unclear, it appears to have taken 10 minutes for the e-mail to be delivered to Hamburg's inbox.

The incident was reminiscent of the ill-fated transfer of Kevin Grosskreutz to Galatasaray in the summer transfer window after the Istanbul club failed to complete the necessary paperwork in time. This forced the former Dortmund player to sit out the first half of the season, before moving to Stuttgart last month.

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