Bundesliga players who could land in England in January

With the January Transfer Window now open here’s looking at the Bundesliga players who might just make a move to English teams this year:

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang:

The Gabon international has been in top form this season and deserves all the media hype his transfer saga is getting at the moment. The 26-year-old speed demon has scored 27 goals in as many appearances this season and is currently the top scorer in the Bundesliga. Although his current contract will keep him at Dortmund till 2020, interest from the English powerhouses could see him leaving the club this January.

Reports have surfaced saying that the player missed training on Tuesday amidst transfer rumours linking him to Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. The kind of form that the player currently is in, Borussia Dortmund will obviously not want to part with the player which only means that if any of the English sides in question do decide to buy him, they will have to splash the cash or possibly empty their pockets.

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez:

Another Manchester United reject to have outperformed the Reds, the Mexican international has been in smoking form for Bayer Leverkusen this season. The Bundesliga player of the month for both November and December, Chicha has already scored 19 goals from 22 appearances.

With the London clubs Chelsea and Arsenal hot on his pursuit, Leverkusen have stated that the 27-year-old is ‘not for sale’. Arsenal seem to be looking into signing the red-hot striker to provide Olivier Giroud some much-needed support. The Mexican forward has scored 17 goals in his last 14 games.

Leroy Sané:

The German teenager has been making heads twist and turn the entire season. With five goals in his 24 appearances this season, the wonder kid has been said to have the technical ability required to become one of the best in Europe in the year to come. The player is full of confidence and likes to run at defenders- using his quick feet to beat them, qualities far beyond his years.

Manchester City appear to be the club monitoring his status with Liverpool also said to have shown interest in signing the player, although Schalke appear to be in no mood to sell him. Reports that suggest City are preparing a £40mil bid for the player. If there is truth in those reports, Sane could be on his way to be the most expensive German ever. A commendable feat for a teenager.

Thomas Mueller:

Although the chances of him leaving Bayern are all but over now that he has put pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him in Bavaria till 2021. English clubs in need of a source of goals were interested in the 26-year-old second striker, namely Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Germany forward has been an integral part of Bayern’s recent success having made his debut for them in August 2008, as well as helping his national team win last year’s World Cup. With 14 goals from 17 league appearances, the goal machine would have been the perfect fit at any of the two sides linked with him if he had chosen to move to find newer challenges.

Granit Xhaka:

The midfielder has impressed for Borussia Monchengladbach this season as they sit comfortably on the fourth place. With his magical passing, the Swiss won the London hearts of Tottenham and Arsenal. Both the father and agent of the player have added fuel to the fire by refusing to rule out a big move.

At the age of 23, a move to the Premier League could see the player grow into an influential figure for both club and country. The only complication that would come in the way of the London clubs is that that Xhaka signed a contract only last year that keeps him at Monchengladbach till 2019. This means that the clubs will have to chip a bigger amount from their kitties for his signature.

Joel Matip:

The Schalke centre-back is being tracked by Jurgen Klopp as most of his players have been hit with on and off injuries. Both Sakho and Lovren haven’t been fully fit for quite some time and the manager, although denies other transfer activity, has said that he might look into the market for a defender.

Martin Skrtel is sidelined with a hamstring injury and is not expected back until the beginning of February while Joe Gomez, who started the season well for the Reds, is out for the remainder of the campaign. The 6′ 4″ German-born Cameroon international fits the bill for Anfield boss.

Mats Hummels:

He has been linked to a move to the Premier League for what seems to be forever. Whether it be Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea, each of them looked equally likely to land the player at some time or the other. But this season, Liverpool look to lead the line of potential suitors for the World Cup winner. But, Hummels has been a rock at the heart of the Dortmund defence for a long time now and has proven himself to be loyal to the side.

Jurgen Klopp will be looking to bring his former captain to his new side as Liverpool have been injury plagued at precisely the centre back position. Hummels, although a fan favourite at the Signal Iduna Park, could maybe look to work with his former coach once again. A move that would undoubtedly bring solidity to the at times ‘shaky’ Reds’ backline.

Xabi Alonso:

The midfielder maestro has regularly been linked with a sensational move back to Anfield in recent months after leaving the Merseyside outfit to join Real Madrid back in the summer of 2009. However, the playmaker has ended speculation surrounding his future ahead of the January transfer window after putting pen to paper on a deal which will see Alonso stay at Allianz Arena until 2017.

This maybe seals the future of the Spaniard for now, but the comments of Steven Gerrard that he would bring the magical player back if he were manager has the fans drooling over the prospect of seeing Alonso in the Reds’ shirt once again.

Ilkay Gundogan:

The German international has been linked with moves to Premiership sides Manchester United and Liverpool for a long time now. Gundogan’s transfer to United was imminent last transfer season but the deal failed over time. This January however, the Red Devils are looking to reignite those flames as they plan to replace Marouane Fellaini with the German.

On the other hand, the player’s ex-coach himself is looking to establish his Liverpool side with some of his older players. But the probability of any of those moves happening look slim and even if the clubs do make a bid for him, Dortmund don’t look like they’ll be too happy seeing the back of one of their key players.

Marco Reus:

He shares a very similar story to Ilkay Gundogan. Both the rivals have been linked to the player for a long time but haven’t been able to successfully lure the player. Although the United link has died over time but Liverpool have had Reus as a serious transfer target since they let their starlet, Raheem Sterling move to Manchester City.

The recruitment of Jurgen Klopp only further helps their cause. A very talented player on the field and a disciplined individual off it, Reus will easily fit into Klopp’s Liverpool and give them the X-factor they have been lacking in their meticulous but lackluster performances. He might be the key to Liverpool finally getting back to the path of silver they so royally used to tread on.