Not sure how this works but Sunderland sold him to Augsburg on Thursday for an undisclosed fee then Augsburg agreed to sell him to Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer the next day. Albeit he won't leave until July. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25779113
Sounds a bit suspect if I'm honest! Nothing wrong with organising transfers of this type, but if B.Dort were turned down it could be that they gave Augsburg the purchase money with this understanding? Would be considered a bit dodgy, I'm sure!
Is this Dortmund trying to save some cash? Ji wants to join them, but they'd loan him out for the rest of the season anyway whilst they've still got Lewandowski. If Dortmund bid for Ji, Sunderland would put a high price on him because Dortmund are fairly well off. But if Augsburg bid, they're not a well-off club so they can probably negotiate a lower price with Sunderland. They agree the deal, pay the money (which Dortmund give them back) and have the player as a full signing for 6 months, rather than Dortmund getting ripped off to sign him, and loaning him to Augsburg anyway. That would be my take, anyway.
It all sounds very strange. Has this sort of arrangement happened anywhere else? What is in it for Augsburg other than having a player for 6 months?
