Munich the only big spenders in modest Bundesliga transfer market

Jul 26, 2011, 11:43 GMT

Dusseldorf - Bayern Munich were the only exception as restraint ruled in the Bundesliga off-season transfer market, acoording to a survey by the German Press Agency dpa.

Led by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Munich alone spent some 45 million euros (64.7 million dollars) of the 132 million overall dished out by the 18 clubs.

The figure tops the 87 million euros from last year, but is far below the record 194 million euros spent in 2007. In addition, the top flight clubs have raked in 102 million dollars for player sales.

The figures are subject to change as the transfer window remains open until August 31. German football competitions start on Friday with the first cup round, and the Bundesliga kicks off on August 5.

Munich bolstered their ranks after having to settle for third in the past season without a trophy.

Neuer came from Schalke for an estimated 22 million euros, the biggest Bundesliga summer transfer fee. Other Munich hirings included defenders Jerome Boateng and Rafinha for some 19 million euros.

Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund were more modest, selling Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin for around 10 million euros to Real Madrid and investing 5.5 million to get Brugge's Ivan Perisic.

VfL Wolfsburg spent 10 million euros on midfielder Christian Traesch and may go shopping again if they manage to sell out-of-favour Brazilian Diego. Runners-up Bayer Leverkusen invested 8 million euros in Germany talent Andre Schuerrle and got even more by selling Arturo Vidal to Italy's Juventus.

Apart from the sale of Neuer, Schalke also cleared their ranks by selling 14 others from a big squad for a transfer surplus of 18 million euros. SV Hamburg ridded themselves of 13 players including expensive ageing stars Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ze Roberto.