Having retained their place in the top flight after winning promotion in 2016/17, it will be another season of consolidation for Hannover 96. Their top three summer signings are solid rather than spectacular.

Walace (Hamburger SV, €6m)

In the summer of 2017, Brazil Walace Souza Silva signed a four year contract with Hamburger SV, joining from home club Grêmio. After a year at the Volksparkstadion and Die Rothosen's relegation at the end of last season, he makes the move south to Hannover 96.

The 23 year old Walace moved to Hamburg for 9.2 million Euro, but Hannover have snapped him up for just under two thirds of that. A defensive midfielder who is also comfortable in the middle of the park, he played 28 times for HSV scoring twice and providing two assists.

Walace also has international experience, with two full caps for Brazil. He also played four times in the Olympic Games for his country, willing the gold medal. Favoured by the defensively-minded former Brazilian coach Dunga, he could be good fit for André Breitenreiter's side.

Genki Haraguchi (Hertha BSC, €4.5m)

Having signed for Hertha BSC from Urawa Red Diamonds in the summer of 2014, Japanese international Genki Haraguchi was a consistent pick for the capital city club, racking up 91 appearances.

With his contract approaching its end, the left-sided winger was loaned out to second division Fortuna Düsseldorf in January 2018. After playing his part in Fortuna's return to the top flight, the 27 year old saw his value double. The end of his loan spell came perfectly for Hertha, who were able to strike a 4.5 million Euro deal with Hannover.

Capped 36 times for Japan, Haraguchi has scored seven goals. During the World Cup in Russia, he played in three of his country's four matches at the tournament. He scored the opening goal in the second round tie against Belgium, a game that almost saw the Japanese beat a highly-rated Belgian side.

Josip Elez (HNK Rijeka, €2.5m)

Hannover's third-biggest signing is the less well-known Josip Elez, a former Croatian Under-21 international. Once on the books at Serie A side Lazio, Elez has done the rounds. Unable to hold down a starting spot in Italy, he had loan spells in Hungary and Denmark before returning home to join HNK Rijeka.

Elez is not exactly a new face at Hannover, having played eleven times for the Lower Saxony side after arriving on loan from Rijeka at the start of 2018. In completing a loan to buy deal for 2.5 million Euro and a three year contract, the 24 will be hoping that all of the continuous moving around is over.

A tall central defender, Elez will look to fill the space vacated by Senegal international Salif Sané, who moved to Schalke 04 in the summer.

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 / josip elez

Bundesliga New Signings: Hannover 96

Bundesliga New Signings: Hannover 96

Bundesliga New Signings: Hannover 96