None of the 1.Bundesliga clubs were in action this past midweek, but there was some transfer business going on as clubs finalized their rosters for the final fourteen games of the league season. The two big movers as the transfer window closed were Felix Magath and Steve McClaren; the two combined for twenty-two transfers in January, more than any other two clubs in the league. McClaren's hand was forced a bit by the sale of Edin Dzeko, but Wolfsburg brought in three forwards to make up for his loss -- Tuncay from Stoke City and Patrick Helmes from Bayer Leverkusen were signed on permanent deals, while Dieudonne Mbokani is on loan from AS Monaco. Wolfsburg also added several midfielders, including Yohandry Orozco, who is already a full Venezuelan international at nineteen.
Bundesliga, Week 21: Schalke 04 And Borussia Dortmund Face Off In Friday’s Revierderby
While McClaren dipped into the market more by necessity, Felix Magath just seems to enjoy reshuffling his squad; he's made thirty-two permanent moves alone in the last two transfer windows. Veteran Greek striker Angelos Charisteas was one of the more curious moves, though Magath also made a more conventional signing in the form of Ghanaian midfielder Anthony Annan, who may replace on-loan Jermaine Jones in the midfield with Peer Kluge. Perhaps more important than the grab-bag of signings was Ivan Rakitic's departure from the Veltins Arena; he was sold to Sevilla.
With the transfer window now closed, it’s up to Magath and his team to deliver in a massive game on Friday against Borussia Dortmund. The Revierderby will kick off the weekend before Bayern Munich visit FC Cologne and former FCB ‘keeper Michael Rensing on Saturday morning. Hannover 96 host Wolfsburg and FC Nürnberg face Bayer Leverkusen in two of the other early Saturday kickoffs, while the late game is a relegation six-pointer between VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach. On Sunday there’s the Hamburg derby between Hamburg SV and St. Pauli at the Imtech Arena, and the final match of the weekend sees SC Freiburg host Eintracht Frankfurt.
