Bundesliga gamble on youth sends transfer record tumbling
German clubs shattered Bundesliga winter transfer spending records in January, forking out close to 100 million euros ($107.6 million) and largely gambling on the potential of youngsters like Leon Bailey and Alexander Isak.
Promising Jamaican teenager Bailey joined Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday for a reported 12 million euros ($12.8 million), while Swede Isak-dubbed the ‘next Zlatan Ibrahimovic’-turned down Real Madrid to sign for Borussia Dortmund.
France’s Dayot Upamecano swapped Red Bull Salzburg for RB Leipzig for a reported 10 million euros, yet the trio are all in their teens and untested in Europe’s top leagues.
The previous record set during the 2014/15 season saw Bundesliga sides pay out around 65 million euros, but that mark has been obliterated with several hours still to go before the deadline. Throw 20-year-old Riechedly Bazoer, who joined Wolfsburg from Ajax for 12 million euros, and new Hamburg signing Walace, 21, into the mix and the focus on investment in youth is undeniable. Wolfsburg have spent the most of any club by stumping up 33 million euros to try and salvage a disastrous season. The 2009 Bundesliga champions drafted in five new faces-including French winger Paul-Georges Ntep-after offloading Germany international Julian Draxler to Paris Saint-Germain for around 40 mil- lion. But despite the record outlay, the country’s richest club Bayern Munich have largely stayed silent with no new arrivals this month. However, the defending champions did complete a double swoop for Hoffenheim pair Niklas Suele and Sebastian Rudy, who will join the league leaders at the start of next season. European transfer briefs yesterday, the final day of the January window:
ANWAR EL GHAZI (LILLE)
Dutch international forward Anwar El Ghazi penned a four-and-half-year deal with Lille after joining the French side from Ajax. The 21-year-old scored 23 goals in 101 matches for the Amsterdam club and has been capped twice for the Netherlands.
LUCAS OCAMPOS (AC MILAN)
Italian giants AC Milan snapped up Argentine winger Lucas Ocampos on loan from Genoa until the end of the season. The 22-year-old was shipped to Genoa by parent club Marseille in June, with Ocampos scoring three goals in 17 appearances for the Serie A side. He arrives at the San Siro to offset the departure of French striker M’Baye Niang to Watford.
TAYE TAIWO (LAUSANNE SPORT)
Former Nigeria international Taye Taiwo could make his debut for Lausanne Sport on Sunday after signing a six-month deal with the Swiss outfit following his exit from HJK Helsinki. The ex-Marseille left-back, who won the French league title in 2010, has earned 54 caps for Nigeria and played for his country at the 2010 World Cup.
TRENT SAINSBURY (INTER MILAN)
Australia centre-back Trent Sainsbury joined Inter Milan from sister club Jiangsu Suning, also owned by Chinese electronics retailer Suning, on loan for the remainder of the Serie A season. Sainsbury, 25, spent two years at Zwolle in the Dutch top flight before moving to China last January. He has played 21 matches for the Socceroos and was part of the side that won the 2015 Asian Cup. —AFP