Starting with Ibrahima Traoré, The twenty-five year old French born attacker will be moving North West of current club Stuttgart to Borussia Mönchengladbach post contract expiry. The club announced via both their twitter account and club website that Traoré had signed a deal keeping him at Borussia park until 2018. He will link up with new teammates in the summer. Traoré joins a further three players through the doors in Yann Sommer, André Hahn and Fabian Johnson. There had been some speculation as to who Traoré would be plying his trade for next season after a number of teams were allegedly interested in the winger, Gladbach being one of them.

The clubs sporting director, Max Eberl had the following to say about the clubs latest acquisition "Ibrahima Traoré is an extremely fast winger with whom we are more flexible in attack. He is a costless transfer and we are delighted that he has opted for Borussia."

Traoré has appeared twenty seven times for Stuttgart this season to date but hasn't exactly tied down a starting place, making eleven of his twenty seven appearances from the bench. However, this hasn't stopped him popping up with two goals and five assists. Traoré will be coming in to do a very much similar job at his new employers, who'll be hoping he plays an important role in their European adventure next season, should they qualify. His move will also be affected by Patrick Herrmann and his future, who is known to have a rather occasional poor game despite his undeniable talent, Traoré would be an ideal replacement for Hermann during his 'off-days.'

Secondly, tough tackling Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Sebastian Rode will be joining recently crowned champions Bayern Munich on a costless transfer, keeping him at the Allianz Arena until 2018. Although Rode has youth on his side being only twenty-three, he may struggle to force his way into the line-up anytime soon and will most likely only be a squad player for the near future. This also depends on Toni Kroos' future, who has been linked with a whole array of top clubs. If he had been signed in January, he would have been of great use now, as Bayern are lacking in the central midfield role for rotation with injuries and suspension keeping players out and without muhch rest.

"I am very pleased that this transfer has worked out," Rode told Bayern's official website.

Rode has been a regular in Eintracht's midfield this season, racking up seventeen appearances in the Bundesliga and five in the Europa League. His European experience will come in handy, despite playing in somewhat of a "lower" standard of competition, to Bayern who are still going strong in the Champions League. Furthermore, Rode is a great passer of the ball and will fit right into Bayern's possession dominated system. Presumably more of a signing for the future when Bastian Schweinsteiger hangs up his boots.

Tolga Cigerci has made his loan move at Hertha Berlin permanent, after agreeing a deal to keep him in the capital until 2017. The fee was not disclosed to the public, but transfermarkt.co.uk has twenty-two year old Cigerci valued at €2.5million. Cigerci leaves Wolfsburg where he first signed in the summer of 2010, with high hopes too, after representing Jos Luhukay's Hertha seventeen times in the league. This despite being injured for a good portion of the season.

"Hertha BSC has taken the option to purchase Tolga Cigerci and the 22-year-old is firmly committed until 2017," read a statement on Hertha's official website.

Cigerci has been an impressive player this term for Hertha and will hope to carry on these performances into further seasons. He has played a direct part in four of Hertha's goals, assisting three and scoring one himself. A solid signing who like the aforementioned Rode has youth on his side and plenty time to grow as a player.

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About the author
Cammy Anderson
Calcio-editor-in-chief Email: [email protected]