Bundesliga gamble on youth sends transfer record tumbling

BERLIN: German clubs shattered Bundesliga winter transfer spending records in January, forking out close to €100 million (RM476.50 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, 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, 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, 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, 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 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 million.
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. — AFP