The 2017/2018 German Bundesliga week 1 is just around the corner and it’s time to make a proper introduction of the competition before we can start with match previews. There have been many changes in teams’ rosters and the main guidance for managers was strengthening their teams but at the end, this goal is not always met. Many factors like the ability to adapt with the new team or injuries can affect the new-signed players and their teams and it’s hard to predict which signing will show up to be a flop and which one will be a success.
The title of this article says pretty much everything and there is no special introduction needed so let’s take a closer look.
BAYERN MUNICH
Arrivals:
Corentin Tolisso (central midfield – Olympique Lyon) – 41.50 Mill. Euros.
Kingsley Coman (right wing – Juventus) – 21.00 Mill. Euros.
Niklas Sule (centre-back – TSG Hoffenheim) – 20.00 Mill. Euros.
James Rodriguez (attacking midfield – Real Madrid) – 10.00 Mill. Euros Loan Fee.
Serge Gnabry (left wing – Werder Bremen) – 8.00. Mill. Euros.
Sebastian Rudy (defensive midfield – TSG Hoffenheim) – free transfer.
Transfers expenditure: 100.50 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Mehdi Benatia (centre-back – Juventus) – 17.00 Mill. Euros.
Douglas Costa (left wing – Juventus) – 6.00 Mill. Euros Loan Fee.
Serge Gnabry (left wing – TSG Hoffenheim) – 1.00 Mill. Euros Loan Fee.
Gianluca Gaudino (central midfield – Chievo Verona) – 50.000 Euros.
Holger Badstuber (centre-back – VfB Stuttgart) – free transfer.
Transfers income: 24.05 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
The retirement of Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso will probably take effect on the Bavarians but anything except another title will be an underachievement. They have strengthened their squad during the offseason by addressing big needs on the roster and by my opinion, Bayern’s projected ranking for the next Bundesliga season is the Champion.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Arrivals:
Maximilian Philipp (secondary striker – SC Freiburg) – 20.00 Mill. Euros.
Omer Toprak (centre-back – Bayer Leverkusen) – 12.00 Mill. Euros.
Mahmoud Dahoud (central midfield – Bor. M’Gladbach) – 12.00 Mill. Euros.
Dan-Axel Zagadou (centre-back – Paris SG B) – free transfer.
Transfers expenditure: 44.00 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Matthias Ginter (centre-back – Bor. M’Gladbach) – 17.00 Mill. Euros.
Sven Bender (centre-back – Bay. Leverkusen) – 12.50 Mill. Euros.
Adrian Ramos (centre-forward – CQ Dangdai Lif.) – 12.00 Mill. Euros.
Pascal Stenzel (right-back – SC Freiburg) – 4.00 Mill. Euros.
Mikel Merino (defensive midfield – Newcastle) – 3.00 Mill. Euros Loan Fee.
Dzenis Burnic (defensive midfield – VfB Stuttgart) – Loan.
Transfers income: 48.50 Mill. Euros
Season preview and projected rankings:
Dortmund doesn’t look like the team that improved their roster in opposition to the last season as couple important players were allowed to leave the team. Nevertheless, I think they have the squad that can finish the season ranked second or third in the league table.
FC AUGSBURG
Arrivals:
Michael Gregoritsch (centre-forward – Hamburger SV) – 5.50 Mill. Euros.
Sergio Cordova (right wing – Caracas FC) – 1.00 Mill. Euros.
Fabian Giefer (keeper – FC Schalke 04) – 750.000 Euros.
Rani Khedira (defensive midfield – RB Leipzig) – free transfer.
Marcel Heller (right wing – SV Darmstadt 98) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 7.25 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Dominik Kohr (central midfield – Bay. Leverkusen) – 2.00 Mill. Euros.
Paul Verhaegh (right-back – VfL Wolfsburg) – 1.50 Mill. Euros.
Albian Ajeti (centre-forward – FC St. Galen) – 1.00 Mill. Euros.
Marco Schuster (defensive midfield – Waldh. Manheim) – free transfer.
Halil Altintop (attacking midfield – Slavia Prague) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 4.50 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
FC Augsburg survived the last season in the top tier of German soccer but that might not be the case this time. A couple of notable acquisitions were added but also there were some significant departures and projected ranking for FC Augsburg is 14th (under the relegation line).
FC KOLN
Arrivals:
Jhon Cordoba (centre-forward – 1.FSV Mainz 05) – 17.00 Mill. Euros.
Jorge Mere (centre-back – Sporting Gijon) – 7.00 Mill. Euros.
Jannes Horn (left-back – VfL Wolfsburg) – 7.00 Mill. Euros.
Joao Queiros (centre-back – Braga U19) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Tim Handwerker (left-back – Leverkusen U19) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 34.00 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Anthony Modeste (centre-forward – TJ Quanjian) – 34.70 Mill. Euros.
Marcel Hartel (attacking midfield – Union Berlin) – 250.000 Euros.
Transfer income: 34.95 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
FC Koln is the team that traded a lot during the offseason and they managed to significantly strengthen their squad thanks to Anthony Modeste’s transfer to China that provided a financial boost. I think that they can go one step further this year and finish the season ranked fourth in the league table.
FRANKFURT
Arrivals:
Sebastian Haller (centre-forward – FC Utrecht) – 7.00 Mill. Euros.
Jetro Willems (left-back PSV Eindhoven) – 5.00 Mill. Euros.
Daichi Kamada (attacking midfield – Sagan Tosu) – 1.60 Mill. Euros.
Danny da Costa (right-back – Bay. Leverkusen) – 1.00 Mill. Euros.
Gelson Fernandes (defensive midfield – Stade Rennais) – 500.000 Euros.
Carlos Salcedo (centre-back – Guadalajara) – 450.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Jan Zimmermann (keeper – 1860 Munich) – free transfer.
Jonathan de Guzman (central midfield – SSC Napoli) – free transfer.
Luka Jovic (centre-forward – Benfica B) – Loan.
Transfer expenditure: 15.55 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Bastian Ozcipka (left-back – FC Schalke 04) – 4.50 Mill. Euros.
Furkan Zorba (centre-back – VfL Osnabruck) – free transfer.
Heinz Lindner (keeper – Grasshoppers) – free transfer.
Haris Seferovic (centre-forward – Benfica) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 4.50 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
Eintracht Frankfurt also looks a bit different compared to the last Bundesliga season thanks to the fact that they signed nine new players while only four left the team. Still, “golden middle” is their thing and ranking tenth or eleventh at the end of the new Bundesliga campaign is my prediction.
FREIBURG
Arrivals:
Pascal Stenzel (right-back – Bor. Dortmund) – 4.00 Mill. Euros.
Marco Terazzino (left wing – TSG Hoffenheim) – 2.50 Mill. Euros.
Florian Niederlechner (centre-forward – 1. FSV Mainz 05) – 2.30 Mill. Euros.
Bartosz Kaputska (attacking midfield – Leicester) – 500.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Philipp Leinhart (centre-back – R.M. Castilla) – 500.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Transfer expenditure: 9.80 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Maximilian Philipp (secondary striker – Bor. Dortmund) – 20.00 Mill. Euros.
Vicenzo Grifo (left wing – Bor. M’Gladbach) – 6.00 Mill. Euros.
Sebastian Kerk (left wing – FC Nuremberg) – 500.000 Euros.
Havard Nielsen (centre-forward – F. Dusseldorf) – 400.000 Euros.
Marc Torrejon (centre-back – Union Berlin) – free transfer.
Fabian Menig (left-back – Preusen Munster) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 26.90 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
Freiburg lost the European competitions berth in the final week of the last season and when we look their transfer activity this year, it looks like the team sold a couple of their best player without providing sufficient replacements. I think that their final ranking at the end of this Bundesliga season will be between No. 11 and No. 13 on the league table.
FSV MAINZ 05
Arrivals:
Abdou Diallo (centre-back – Monaco) – 5.00 Mill. Euros.
Viktor Fischer (left wing – Middlesbrough) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Alexandru Maxim (attacking midfield – VfB Stuttgart) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Kenan Kodro (centre-forward – CA Osasuna) – 1.75 Mill. Euros.
Rene Adler (keeper – Hamburger SV) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 12.75 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Jhon Cordoba (centre-forward – FC Koln) – 17.00 Mill. Euros.
Florian Niederlechner (centre-forward – Freiburg) – 2.30 Mill. Euros.
Pierre Bengtsson (left-back – FC Copenhagen) – 1.00 Mill. Euros.
Todor Nedelev (left wing – Botev Plovdiv) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 20.30 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
Mainz sold their best player from the last season to league rivals Koln and the battle for survival in the Bundesliga might get even tougher this year. Still, I think that they have enough juice to stay in the league. Ranking prediction is between No. 12 and No. 14 spot.
HAMBURGER SV
Arrivals:
Kyriakos Papadopoulos (centre-back – Bay Leverkusen) – 6.50 Mill. Euros.
Andre Hahn (centre-forward – Bor. M’Gladbach) – 6.00 Mill. Euros.
Julian Pollersbeck (keeper – FC K’lautern) – 3.50 Mill. Euros.
Rick van Drongelen (centre-back – Sparta R.) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Bjarne Thoelke (centre-back – Karlsruher SC) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 19.99 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Michael Gregoritsch (centre-forward – Augsburg) – 5.50 Mill. Euros.
Arianit Ferati (attacking midfield – E. Aue) – 50.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Rene Adler (keeper – FSV Mainz 05) – free transfer.
Nabil Bahoui (left wing – Grasshoppers) – free transfer.
Johan Djourou (centre-back – Antalyaspor) – free transfer.
Matthias Ostrzolek (left-back – Hannover 96) – free transfer.
Dren Feka (defensive midfield – FC Luzern) – free transfer.
Ashton Gotz (right-back – free agent).
Transfer income: 5.55 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
HSV’s roster is not much different than last years’ if we count the starting players. Most of the departures during the offseason were the guys that didn’t see many minutes on the field. This also means that the second part of the table is their reality in the upcoming Bundesliga season as they haven’t signed many potential game changers and their projected ranking is between No. 12 and No. 14 spot.
HANNOVER 96
Arrivals:
Julian Korb (right-back – Bor. M’Gladbach) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Michael Esser (keeper – SC Darmstadt 98) – 2.00 Mill. Euros.
Yousef Emghames (right wing – FC Bayern U19) – free transfer.
Matthias Ostrzolek (left-back – Hamburger SV) – free transfer.
Tom Baller (attacking midfield – M’Gladbach U19) – free transfer.
Pirmin Schwegler (defensive midfield – TSG Hoffenheim) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 5.00 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Andre Hoffmann (centre-back – F. Dusseldorf) – 250.000 Euros.
Artur Sobiech (centre-forward – SC Darmstadt 98) – free transfer.
Mevlut Erdinc (centre-forward – Basaksehir) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 250.000 Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
The Hannover is the newcomer in the Bundesliga this year and their roster looks pretty much the same it did last year with a coupe of solid additions. Like for most newly promoted teams, the battle for survival will be their main fight this season but I don’t give them a lot of chances. Their projected ranking is below the relegation line.
HERTHA BERLIN
Arrivals:
Davie Selke (centre-forward – RB Leipzig) – 8.00 Mill. Euros.
Mathew Leckie (left wing – FC Ingolstadt) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Karim Rekik (centre-back – Marseille) – 2.50 Mill. Euros.
Jonathan Klinsmann (keeper – UC Berkeley) – free transfer.
Valentino Lazaro (right wing – RB Salzburg) – Loan.
Transfer expenditure: 13.50 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
John Anthony Brooks (centre-back – VfL Wolfsburg) – 17.00 Mill. Euros.
Sami Allagui (centre-forward – FC St. Pauli) – free transfer.
Florian Kohls (defensive midfield – Wurzb. Kickers) – free transfer.
Alexander Baumjohann (attacking midfield – Coritiba FC) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 17.00 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
One of the most awkward teams in the German Bundesliga last season (75+ percent of points earned at home) should record a downfall this year having in mind the fact that they sold their best defensive player to the league rival Wolfsburg during the offseason. Projected ranking for the team from German capital is between No. 9 and No. 12 spot.
HOFFENHEIM
Arrivals:
Havard Nordtveit (defensive midfield – West Ham) – 8.00 Mill. Euros.
Nico Schulz (left-back – Bor. M’Gladbach) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Justin Hoogma (centre-back – Heracles Almelo) – 2.70 Mill. Euros.
Serge Gnabry (left wing – Bayern Munich) – 1.00 Mill. Euros Loan Fee.
Florian Grillitsch (central midfield – Werder Bremen) – free transfer.
Robert Zulj (attacking midfield – G. Furth) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 14.70 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Niklas Sule (centre-back – Bay. Munich) – 20.00 Mill. Euros.
Marco Terazzino (left wing – TSG Hoffenheim) – 2.50 Mill. Euros.
Fabian Schar (centre-back – Dep. La Coruna) – 2.00 Mill. Euros.
Antonio Colak (centre-forward – FC Ingolstadt) – 300.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Nicolai Rapp (centre-back – E. Aue) – 50.000 Euros.
Baris Atik (attacking midfield – FC K’lautern) – 50.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Pirmin Schwegler (defensive midfield – Hannover 96) – free transfer.
Danilo Soares (left-back – VfL Bochum) – free transfer.
Sebastian Rudy (defensive midfield – Bay. Munich) – free transfer.
Russell Canouse (central midfield – DC United) – free transfer.
In-Hyeok Park (centre-forward – free agent).
Transfer income: 24.90 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
The departure of their best young player should not make big tremors in the team because Hoffenheim is used to this kind of scenarios. Still, they’ll compete in the group stage of one of the European competitions until at least Christmas and that could slow them down in the national championship. Projected Bundesliga rankings for the team from Sinsheim are between No. 6 and No. 9 spot.
LEVERKUSEN
Arrivals:
Sven Bender (centre-back – B. Dortmund) – 12.50 Mill. Euros.
Dominik Kohr (central midfield – FC Augsburg) – 2.00 Mill. Euros.
Transfer expenditure: 14,50 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Hakan Calhanoglu (attacking midfield – AC Milan) – 22.00 Mill. Euros.
Chicharito (centre-forward – West Ham) – 17.80 Mill. Euros.
Omer Toprak (centre-back – B. Dortmund) – 12.00 Mill. Euros.
Danny da Costa (right-back – Frankfurt) – 1.00 Mill. Euros.
Kyriakos Papadopoulos (centre-back – Hamburger SV) – 6.50 Mill. Euros.
Paterson Chato (left-back – B. Dortmund II) – free transfer.
Patrik Dzalto (centre-forward – Jahn Regensburg) – free transfer.
Andrejs Ciganiks (left wing – Schalke 04 II) – free transfer.
Lukas Boeder (centre-back – SC Paderborn) – free transfer.
Robin Becker (right-back – E. Braunschweig) – free transfer.
Seung-Woo Ryu (attacking midfield – Jeju Utd) – free transfer.
Roberto Hilbert (right-back – free agent).
Transfer income: 59.30 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
A couple of main pillars of Bayer’s team has left during the offseason and additions that are presented so far are just not enough. If they don’t trade more during the transfer window in the way of acquiring couple more quality players, Leverkusen could finish even bigger downfall than it did last year. With the current roster, their projected ranking is between No. 13 and No. 16 spot which means that the survival in the top Bundesliga might come in question.
MOENCHENGLADBACH
Arrivals:
Matthias Ginter (centre-back – Bor. Dortmund) – 17.00 Mill. Euros.
Denis Zakaria (defensive midfield – BSC Young Boys) – 12.00 Mill. Euros.
Vicenzo Grifo (left wing – Freiburg) – 6.00 Mill. Euros.
Mickael Cuisance (central midfield – AS Nancy U19) – 250.000 Euros.
Florian Neuhaus (central midfield – 1860 Munich) – free transfer.
Reece Oxford (centre-back – West Ham) – Loan.
Transfer expenditure: 35.25 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Mahmoud Dahoud (central midfield – Bor. Dortmund) – 12.00 Mill. Euros.
Andre Hahn (centre-forward – Hamburger SV) – 6.00 Mill. Euros.
Julian Korb (right-back – Hannover 96) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Nico Schulz (left-back – Hoffenheim) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Djibril Sow (central midfield – BSC Young Boys) – 2.00 Mill. Euros.
Florian Neuhaus (central midfield – F. Dusseldorf) – 80.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Marvin Schulz (centre-back – FC Luzern) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 26.08 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
Borussia from Moenchengladbach made some solid transfer moves during the offseason by addressing some big needs and I think that they are a stronger squad than they were last year. My projected Bundesliga rankings for them are between No. 5 and No. 8 spot.
RB LEIPZIG
Arrivals:
Jean-Kevin Augustin (centre-forward – Paris SG) – 13.00 Mill. Euros.
Bruma (left wing – Galatasaray) – 12.50 Mill. Euros.
Konrad Laimer (central midfield – RB Salzburg) – 7.00 Mill. Euros.
Yvon Mvogo (keeper – BSC Young Boys) – 5.00 Mill. Euros.
Philipp Kohn (keeper – Stuttgart U19) – free transfer.
Ibrahima Konate (centre-back – FC Sochaux) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 37.50 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Davie Selke (centre-forward – Hertha Berlin) – 8.00 Mill. Euros.
Atinc Nukan (centre-back – Besiktas) – 200.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Rani Khedira (defensive midfield – FC Augsburg) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 8.20 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
Last year was a season of dreams for the newcomers in the first tier of Bundesliga but now the team will need to show consistency if they want to repeat that success. They added a couple of solid young players and by my opinion, their projected rankings for the upcoming season is between No.2 and No. 5 spot.
SCHALKE 04
Arrivals:
Nabil Bentaleb (central midfield – Tottenham) – 19.00 Mill. Euros.
Yevhen Konoplyanka (left wing – Sevilla FC) – 12.50 Mill. Euros.
Amine Harit (attacking midfield – FC Nantes) – 8.00 Mill. Euros.
Bastian Ozcipka (left-back – Frankfurt) – 4.50 Mill. Euros.
Pablo Insua (centre-back – Dep. La Coruna) – 3.50 Mill. Euros.
Michale Langer (keeper – Norrkoping) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 47.50 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Fabian Giefer (keeper – FC Augsburg) – 750.000 Euros.
Phil Neumann (right-back – FC Ingolstadt) – free transfer.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (centre-forward – AFC Ajax) – free transfer.
Eric Maxim Chuopo-Moting (left wing – Stoke City) – free transfer.
Timon Wellenreuther (keeper – Willem II) – free transfer.
Sead Kolasinac (left-back – Arsenal) – free transfer.
Dennis Aogo (left-back – VfB Stuttgart) – free transfer.
Sascha Riether (right-back – free agent).
Transfer income: 750.000 Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
Biggest floppers of the Bundesliga last season, Schalke 04 team opened up their pockets during the offseason spending nearly 50.00 Mill. Euros in order to strengthen their squad, but a couple of impactful players also left the team. Still, I think that they can get any worse than in 2016 and my projected rankings for this team are between No. 5 and No. 8 spot.
STUTTGART
Arrivals:
Chadrac Akolo (right midfield – FC Sion) – 6.00 Mill. Euros.
Ron-Robert Zieler (keeper – Leicester) – 4.00 Mill. Euros.
Orel Mangala (central midfield – Anderlecht) – 1,80 Mill. Euros.
Ailton (left-back – Estoril) – 1.00 Mill. Euros.
Dennis Aogo (left-back – Schalke 04) – free transfer.
Holger Badstuber (centre-back – VfB Stuttgart) – free transfer.
Dzenis Burnic (defensive midfield – VfB Stuttgart) – Loan.
Anastasios Donis (centre-forward – Juventus) – free transfer.
Transfer expenditure: 12.80 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Alexandru Maxim (attacking midfield – FSV Mainz) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Toni Sunjic (centre-back – Dinamo Moscow) – 700.000 Euros.
Benjamin Uphoff (keeper – Karlsruher SC) – free transfer.
Borys Taschy (centre-forward – MSV Duisburg) – free transfer.
Florian Klein (right-back – free agent).
Transfer income: 3.70 Mill Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
Stuttgart is another newcomer in the first tier of German soccer and like Hannover 96, their main concern will be the battle for survival. But just like in the case of Hannover, I don’t think that they can survive in the top Bundesliga with this strength and my projected rankings for Stuttgart team are between No. 15 and No. 18 spot.
WERDER BREMEN
Arrivals:
Ludwig Augustinsson (left-back – FC Copenhagen) – 4.50 Mill. Euros.
Jiri Pavlenka (keeper – Slavia Prague) – 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Jerome Gondorf (central midfield – SV Darmstadt 98) – 1.20 Mill. Euros.
Yuning Zhang (centre-forward – West Brom) – Loan.
Transfer expenditure: 8.70 Mill. Euros.
Departures:
Serge Gnabry (left wing – Bay. Munich) – 8.00. Mill. Euros.
Florian Grillitsch (central midfield – Hoffenheim) – free transfer.
Felix Wiedwald (keeper – Leeds) – 500.000 Euros.
Laszlo Kleinheisler (attacking midfield – FC Astana) – 100.000 Euros Loan Fee.
Marnon Busch (right-back – FC Heidenheim) – 100.000 Euros.
Raphael Wolf (keeper – F. Dusseldorf) – free transfer.
Melvyn Lorenzen (left wing – ADO Den Haag) – free transfer.
Claudio Pizarro (centre-forward – free agent).
Santiago Garcia (left-back – Toluca) – free transfer.
Transfer income: 8.70 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
Werder Bremen team showed some remarkable and very efficient soccer in the second part of the last season that saves them the in the battle for survival. The team hasn’t been very active on the receiving end of the transfer window as only four new players were added opposing to nine that left the team. By my opinion, the battle for Bundesliga survival in the new season is the reality for Bremen and my projected ranking for the team is between No. 14 and No. 17 spot.
WOLFSBURG
Arrivals:
John Anthony Brooks (centre-back – Hertha Berlin) – 17.00 Mill. Euros.
Ignacio Camacho (defensive midfield – Malaga CF) – 15.00 Mill. Euros.
Nany Landry Dimata (centre-forward – KV Oostende) – 10.00 Mill. Euros.
William (right-back – Internacional) – 5.00 Mill. Euros.
Marvin Stefaniak (left wing) – 2.00 Mill. Euros.
Paul Verhaegh (right-back – FC Augsburg) – 1.50 Mill. Euros.
Ohis Felix Uduokhai (centre-back – 1860 Munich) – 1.00 Mill. Euros.
Transfer expenditure: 51.50 Mill. Euros
Departures:
Ricardo Rodriguez (left-back – AC Milan) – 18.00 Mill. Euros.
Luiz Gustavo (defensive midfield – Marseille) – 10.00 Mill. Euros.
Jannes Horn (left-back – FC Koln) – 7.00 Mill. Euros.
Diego Benaglio (keeper – Monaco) – free transfer.
Francisco Rodriguez (left midfield) – free transfer.
Leandro Putaro (centre-forward – Arm. Bielefeld) – free transfer.
Patrick Drewes (keeper – W. Kickers) – free transfer.
Moritz Sprenger (centre-back – Wolfsburg II) – free transfer.
Ashkan Dejagah (right midfield – free agent).
Transfer income: 35.00 Mill. Euros.
Season preview and projected rankings:
The Wolves are the team that was most active on the transfer market in Germany during the offseason with more than 85.00 Million Euros involved in arrivals and departures. A couple of top players left but a couple of solid players were added and I think that their season should not be full of turmoil as it was last year. Projected Bundesliga ranking for Wolfsburg is between No. 8 and No. 12 spot.
