Ten Bundesliga talents that may be on the move to England during the transfer window.
10. Roberto Firmino – Hoffenheim
The Hoffenheim ace has been a real danger in front of goal this term, finding the net 16 times in the Bundesliga – making him the highest scoring Brazilian in Europe. However, that wasn’t enough to earn him a call up for the Selecao at this summer’s World Cup. Creating 12 assists as well as scoring freely, Chelsea are rumoured to have taken note and a £15m offer is reported to be in the offing.
9. Ricardo Rodriguez – Wolfsburg
The Swiss international has grown in stature since joining the Bundesliga outfit back in 2012, and at 21 he still has more than enough time to take the world by storm as he continues his rapid rate of maturity. A bombastic full-back that can run all day, he is being linked with a move to Manchester United and Chelsea, as they both look for replacements for Patrice Evra and Ashley Cole respectively.
8. Granit Xhaka – Borussia Monchengladbach
Despite his prodigious talent he has yet to fully establish himself as a first team regular with Gladbach. However, even though he hasn’t featured as much as anticipated his skills have not gone unnoticed by Premier League side Liverpool, who could use a combative holding midfielder. Strong and powerful, but with great ability to distribute the ball from deeper positions in midfield, he could be what the club have lacked this term.
7. Kevin Volland – Hoffenheim
The young German striker is another player that has been quietly catching the eye this season, after bagging a very respectable 10 goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga. Capable of featuring on the wing as well as in a central role, his versatility will appeal to Liverpool, who struggled with injuries and suspensions in those areas this term. Reports in Germany claim that he has a €15m release clause in his deal, making him an attractive proposition for a side keen to add some youth to their front line.
6. Rafael Van Der Vaart – Hamburg
The Dutch maestro has been one of the very few bright sparks in Hamburg’s disastrous season, however, his efforts were not enough to keep the club out of the bottom three. He will undoubtedly be one of the main names on the exodus list as he will not want to play in the second tier, especially at his age. He has already been linked with a return to Spurs, who want to add some significant experience to their midfield following a disappointing campaign of their own.
5. Marco Reus – Borussia Dortmund
The German international has been one of the jewels in Dortmund’s crown ever since joining the club two years ago, though sadly, he has also been another star name tipped to exit the club following Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski. Unlike those two, though, he has been mooted to join Manchester United rather than Bayern Munich, who are preparing a massive summer overhaul to attempt to gain their place back at the top of tree in the Premier League.
4. Hakan Calhanoglu – Hamburg
The second shining light in Hamburg’s darkest hour. He has not been a household name before this season, but the young winger has done enough to earn the overtures of Chelsea, who are undergoing a youthful revolution under Jose Mourinho this summer. Bagging 10 goals from midfield this term, he would add a significant threat to help the club with their problems concerning misfiring strikers.
3. Mats Hummels – Borussia Dortmund
The centre-back has often been lauded as one of the world’s brightest defenders, and if it hadn’t been for a series of injuries he would most likely already be there. However, with Manchester United set to lose Rio Ferdinand this summer, they have targeted the German international as his ideal replacement – but Barcelona will also fancy taking a run at him to take over from Carles Puyol too.
2. Mario Mandzukic – Bayern Munich
Mandzukic has been in exceptional form for the champions again this season, but he has been heavily tipped to leave as his place next term will come under threat thanks to the arrival of the league’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski. Unlikely to want to play second fiddle to anyone at the Alianz Arena, he may look to move on and both Arsenal and Chelsea are rumoured to have met with his representatives earlier on in the year to thrash out a possible move to London.
1. Toni Kroos – Bayern Munich
Kroos is one of the products of an incredibly strong youth academy in Bavaria, and though he has played a major role in the club’s success this season he may be sacrificed over the summer as Pep Guardiola prepares for a massive reshuffle. Manchester United made a substantial offer for him over the summer, only to be knocked back. However, that won’t stop them making another push to land his signature again this time around.