Transfer activity in the German Bundesliga has been modest so far this winter ahead of Monday's deadline for
signings.

On the eve of the January window closing in Germany at 1700 GMT Monday, some 40 million euros (43.3 million dollars) had been spent
on new players by Bundesliga clubs, with an additional 5 million euros on loan deals.

The league is this well below last year's record outlay of 65 million euros during the same period.

On player sales, around 27.5 million euros has been accrued.

The most expensive signing so far is winger Jonas Hofman who has moved from Borussia Dortmund to Borussia Moenchengladbach for some
7.5 million euros. The biggest sale was Wolfsburg defender Timm Klose to Premier League side Norwich City for 12 million euros.
The most prominent moves is probably the switch from Kevin Grosskreutz to VfB Stuttgart after short and luckless spell at
Galatasaray in Istanbul.

The most active club were struggling Hanover under new coach Thomas Schaaf, who have signed five new players and are looking for a
central defender.

VfL Wolfsburg, who last winter signed Andre Schuerrle from Chelsea for 32 million euros, again wanted to get the chequebook out but
plans to sign Basel striker Breel Embolo to replace the injured Bas Dost were not realized.

Despite Wolfsburg raising their offer to 28 million euros, Basel were not prepared to release the 18-year-old striker. Instead the Wolves
have invested 4 million euros in Brazilian second-division player Bruno Henrique.

Borussia Dortmund were also looking to strengthen but a 13-million-euro offer for Mainz striker Yunus Malli was turned down.
Dortmund are still reportedly interested in the Spanish talents Oliver Torres (Atletico Madrid) and Mikel Merino (Osasuna).
"We are keeping all our options open, but have confidence in our team," coach Thomas Tuchel said.

Fears that top Bundesliga players could be lured by the big-spending Premier League have not materialized in the current transfer period.
Apart from Klose, only Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff has moved to England to join Sunderland, while Adnan Januzaj has returned to
Manchester United from his loan at Dortmund.

Borussia Moenchengladbach sport director Max Eberl believes that there won't be movement from the Bundesliga to the Premier League in
the summer either.

"The top players will stay in the Bundesliga," he forecast.

"Why should they go to England when they can play in the Champions League in Germany. I don't think the Bundesliga is just a stopover."