Back among the big boys after four years in the second division, 1. FC Nürnberg's biggest priority will be to stay up. Coach Michael Köllner has managed to hold onto the majority of last season's squad, and has kept a very tight budget - the lowest of all eighteen teams in the Bundesliga. We take a look at three of Der Club's summer signings.

Christian Mathenia (Hamburger SV, €500,000)

With experienced goalkeeper Thorsten Kirschbaum heading off to Bayer Leverkusen during the summer on a free transfer, Nürnberg have cashed in on the exodus at Hamburger SV, snapping up Christian Mathenia for just half a million Euro.

Mathenia was no fringe player at Hamburg, and had been the regular 'keeper until he was supplanted by German Under-21 star Julian Pollersbeck for the final third of the season. His final match for Die Rothosen would have traumatised any 'keeper - a 6:0 defeat at the hands of eventual Bundesliga champions FC Bayern München.

For a 26 year old goalkeeper with plenty of top flight experience (Mathenia was also a regular for SV Darmstadt 98 in 2015/16), the price tag of half a million Euro is more than reasonable.

Patric Klandt (SC Freiburg, free)

To provide some additional insurance between the sticks, Der Club have invested in a second new 'keeper to join Mathenia and last season's regular Fabian Bredlow.

This comes in the form of the experienced Patric Klandt, who joins Michael Köllner's side on a free transfer after spending the whole of last season as a bench-warmer at SC Freiburg. One of the first things he will want to do is at his new club is to get out onto the pitch and play some football.

Despite having a total of 386 matches under his belt, Frankfurt-born Klandt has never played in the top flight. With Bredlow and Mathenia ahead of him, opportunities will be surely be limited for the 31 year old.

Timothy Tillman (FC Bayern München II, loan)

Perhaps most interesting new face is 19 year old attacking midfielder Timothy Tillmann, who makes the short journey up the Autobahn A9 from FC Bayern München's second team to join his home-town club.

Having joined Bayern as a 16 year old from SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Tillmann has progressed through the youth ranks in Munich, and has also represented Germany at Under-16 through to Under-19 level. He will see his move to Nürnberg as a major opportunity to make the next career step, and a chance to cut his teeth at the top level.

Despite being a German youth international, Tillmann is also eligible to play for the United States through his father. His younger brother, also at Bayern, has already switched to the Stars and Stripes.

For more Bundesliga fun stuff, check out my Little Bundesliga Book project. Copies of the 2016 pocket book are still available, with the aim of raising funds for a new edition at the end of this season.

Soccer / christian mathenia

Bundesliga New Signings: 1. FC Nürnberg

Bundesliga New Signings: 1. FC Nürnberg

Bundesliga New Signings: 1. FC Nürnberg