How the first transfer coups could shake up the Bundesliga | OneFootball

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Although the current season is still in full swing and the last points are being awarded, the teams are already preparing for the next season. In the process, several exciting transfers have been announced that have the potential to shift the balance of power in the coming season. Interestingly, many top performers are changing teams within the league.

Hegering's move a major coup for Cologne

Especially at VfL Wolfsburg, a lot has already happened. Departures like Jule Brand and Merle Frohms, as well as the end of Tabea Sellner and Kristin Demann's careers, have been known for a while. Defensive chief Marina Hegering will also be leaving the club. However, she won't be retiring as expected and moving to the coaching staff, but will instead join league rivals 1. FC Köln for two more years. A top transfer for the Cologne team, who want to further develop their team with Hegering's experience.

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For Wolfsburg, Hegering's departure was not unexpected, but now the club will urgently need more reinforcement in central defense, as Hegering was a key pillar. In Cologne, Hegering could play a crucial role and ensure that 1. FC can compete for points in the middle of the table instead of fighting against relegation. With Hegering, the chances are high that not as many as 50 goals will be conceded, as was the case this season.

With Zicai, keep pursuers at a distance

The Wolves, on the other hand, have already landed their own transfer coup: With Cora Zicai, they brought in one of the biggest talents in the Bundesliga from SC Freiburg to compensate for the well-known departures in the attack. Although Zicai is not yet on the same level as Bayern stars like Pernille Harder, the move to Wolfsburg could come at just the right time for her to fulfill her full potential.

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Especially to keep pursuers Frankfurt and Leverkusen at a distance in the future, the transfer is absolutely important. Just like the transfer of central defender Janou Levels, who took advantage of her exit clause at Bayer 04 and also joined VfL. In Leverkusen, the Dutchwoman was a key player and will be missed. She won't be able to fill the gap left by Marina Hegering alone, but will contribute a large part to it. However, if Kathrin Hendrich, whose contract is also expiring, also leaves Wolfsburg's defense, Levels will play an even bigger role in the future.

Frankfurt strengthens with Memeti's scoring qualities

To not let the top clubs in the league pull away in the future, Eintracht Frankfurt had to close the gap left by Barbara Dunst's transfer. The Austrian national player, who has been out for months with a cruciate ligament rupture, joined FC Bayern. In return, Ereleta Memeti comes from Hoffenheim. The midfielder, who can be used flexibly and is particularly strong offensively, will support Frankfurt in scoring goals. Eintracht coach Niko Arnautis praised her speed, agility, and good technique, calling her "a kind of street footballer who also brings a lot mentally to our game".

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For Hoffenheim, this is a tough blow after several other transfers. If the club doesn't find adequate replacement for Memeti, it could be difficult to keep up with the top of the league. After all, Memeti was an absolute top performer and top scorer in Hoffenheim. In Frankfurt, she could blossom even further. Another key player who will leave Hoffenheim after four years is Jana Feldkamp. The midfielder, who was awarded the Fritz Walter Medal as the best young player in 2017, is returning to her hometown club SGS Essen.

Top performers change teams within the league

For Essen, re-signing Feldkamp is an important statement and gives the only women's sports club in the Bundesliga great confidence to be able to keep up with the competition in the coming season. RB Leipzig also wants to achieve this goal and has secured Freiburg's top performer Annabell Schasching. Whether as a right-back, right winger, or center-forward, the former Austrian top scorer has already proven her all-rounder qualities in the Bundesliga. She could replace top scorer Vanessa Fudalla in Leipzig.

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Another top performer has also found a new club: Luca Birkholz is leaving FC Carl Zeiss Jena and joining Freiburg. The Breisgau team has a great need for reinforcements in the attack after the departures, and for Birkholz, this could be the chance to develop further. Especially with headers, for which the tall striker is predestined, there is still room for improvement. For Cora Zicai, she will probably not be a direct replacement, but will still play an important role in Freiburg's attack. However, it remains to be seen whether the SC will be able to keep up with the top teams again, and it depends on further possible transfers.

Exciting transfers that currently suggest that the top teams Bayern, Wolfsburg, and Frankfurt could quickly pull away. But the transfer carousel is still spinning, and it remains to be seen how Leverkusen and Hoffenheim will react to the already known transfers. Jena, Freiburg, and Bremen will also likely make some moves on the transfer market to avoid landing at the bottom of the table with three new clubs in the coming season.

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