Newly signed Wolfsburg midfielder Julian Draxler (centre).

DPA/Berlin

The Bundesliga summer transfer window closed Monday with the record fee smashed by Kevin de Bruyne’s move from Wolfsburg to Manchester City and fears German football faces a talent drain of top players.
De Bruyne’s transfer brought a reported 75 million euros (84 million dollars) into Volkswagen-backed Wolfsburg’s coffers, allowing last season’s runners-up to strengthen their side with Germany international Julian Draxler from Schalke and Brazilian defender Dante from Bayern Munich.
The De Bruyne move to England has come not long after Liverpool paid a then-record 41 million euros to Hoffenheim for Roberto Firmino.
Tottenham’s purchase of Son Heung Min from Leverkusen (for a reported 30 million euros) and Chelsea’s acquisition of Ghana defender Baba Rahman from Augsburg (for a reported 20 million euros) are further demonstrations of financial might by the Premier League, enriched by a 3-billion-euro-per-season television deal from 2016 to 2019.
In a move the other way, Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez joined Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Wolfburg meanwhile used some of the De Bruyne money to spend a reported 35 million euros on Draxler - a record purchase for the Wolves and a record sale for Schalke.
The Premier League has undoubtedly inflated the price of players and their salaries beyond the means of clubs in the Bundesliga. And although the transfers have boosted revenues for some German clubs there are real fears German football will lose some of its best attractions.
Volkswagen chairman Martin Winterkorn, who is a member of Wolfsburg’s supervisory board, was quoted in German media as saying record champions Bayern Munich had also been interested in De Bruyne but could not compete with City.
“When sums like this are paid one has to consider what one can do in Germany to stop this selling-off (of players),” he said.
However Bayern Munich sports director Matthias Sammer said there was no point in complaining and that the increase in transfer income also provided opportunities.
“Changes in certain areas should also lead to a change in the way of thinking,” he said.
“I can remember people complaining that there was not enough (revenue).”
Wolfsburg were without doubt the busiest club of the past few days, with De Bruyne’s move and the sale of Croatia midfielder Ivan Perisic to Inter Milan for a reported 20 million euros bringing in some 100 million euros. Midfielder Aaron Hunt was also sold to SV Hamburg for an undisclosed fee.
Other clubs were also active. Borussia Dortmund signed South Korean Park Joo Ho from Mainz, while releasing Slovenian international attacking midfielder Kevin Kampl to Bayer Leverkusen.
Belgium midfielder Adnan Januzaj joined Dortmund from Manchester United in a loan deal for the rest of the season.
Dortmund meanwhile loaned out Poland midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski to Italy’s Fiorentina until the end of the season.
There was no immediate confirmation following the end of the Turkish transfer deadline on a reported move by Dortmund’s Kevin Grosskreutz to Galatasaray amid German reports the deal had not been processed in time.
Amid the late August activity, Hertha Berlin signed a recognized goalscorer in VfB Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisivec while there were several other lower key moves elsewhere.