Now more than ever, Premier League clubs tend to do their shopping overseas. For a time, La Liga was the marketplace of choice. Subsequently, Ligue 1 was the flavour of the month. However, over recent years clubs have favoured the Bundesliga.
While the quality on show isn’t as large as it possibly is in the English top-flight, the style across both leagues is somewhat similar.
So ahead of the January transfer window opening, we’ve taken a closer at five Bundesliga players who could soon be making the move to England.
Patrick Herrmann
Among the most exciting wingers in Europe during the 2014/15 season, injuries have plagued Herrmann for a number of years.
However, he’s back fit and back shooting this term.
Under new manager Marco Rose, Hermann looks better than ever. Gladbach have a host of interesting names within their ranks right now and their achievement won’t go unnoticed.
They’ll want to keep the likes of Breel Embolo, Marcus Thuram and Alassane Pléa so may sacrifice Herrmann to add funds into the bud to reinforce their title challenge in January.
Wout Weghorst
Weghorst seems readymade for a mid-table Premier League side.
For starters, he isn’t a forward who is based on volume. He is averaging just north of two efforts per 90 and close to 50 per cent of them are hitting the target.
More importantly, a quarter of those shots up in the back of the net.
A strong, old-school number nine, he has everything required to be the focal point for a side in England.
Linked to Crystal Palace, he could do a job for a number of teams. However, at 27 years old, Weghorst is still young enough to warrant a hefty price tag. One that Wolfsburg would definitely demand.
Marcel Sabitzer
RB Leipzig have a glut of players being courted by a number of Europe’s elite.
Timo Werner is wanted by Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea according to several reports, Dayot Upamecano is an Arsenal transfer target while others stay interested in Ibrahima Konaté, Yussuf Poulsen, Emil Forsberg and Nordi Mukiele.
But one participant regularly overlooked is Sabitzer. The utility guy can play anywhere across the middle third in addition to in attack.
The 25-year-old is enjoying life under Julian Nagelsmann and is currently just two goals shy of his most productive ever Bundesliga season. He’s involved himself in nine goals in just 14 domestic appearances this term and added two goals and two assists in four Champions League matches.
The Austria international seems perfect for that innovative number eight role being utilised by many of the best clubs in England.
Milot Rashica
Reportedly on Aston Villa’s radar, the 33million-rated winger is catching the eye for Werder Bremen. Rumoured to be a Celtic transfer goal prior to his move to Germany in the summer of 2018, the 23-year-old has showcased the abundance of talent he has since made his introduction.
He netted nine times last season and chipped in with a further five assists while this time around he has six goals and three assists already. Explosively fast over short distances, Rashica can finish with either foot and has an unpredictability to his game that many Premier League clubs would welcome.
He won’t be cheap but any outlay now could be doubled in a year or two if he’s able to carry the form he has shown in both Holland and Germany over to England.
László Bénes
The 22-year-old is just another player to have burst onto the scene with Gladbach this term.
He spent time away from the club on loan last season but Rose has given him a chance to be a part of the first-team and he’s not wasted the opportunity.
Having a wand of a left foot, Bénes has quickly crafted out a role for himself as a creative outlet for the league leaders. He’s a set-piece specialist, an aggressive ball-carrier and really progressive when in possession.
Bénes has already registered four assists in the Bundesliga and he is adept at playing anywhere across the midfield, he’s got the potential to be moulded into an all-action centre-midfielder.
