No top flight’s stock has risen higher than the Bundesliga over the past few years. Bayern Munich’s domination of Europe and Borussia Dortmund’s surprise march to the 2013 Champions League final was followed up twelve months later by the German national team claiming the World Cup in Brazil, thrashing the hosts 7-1 in the process.Indeed, the German youth system’s efficiency and productivity verges upon stereotypical, and with wages throughout the German top flight remaining relatively low, it’s become an exciting recruitment pool for Premier League talent over the last few years.With that in mind, here’s a look at FIVE Bundesliga talents that should be catching Liverpool’s attention through their impressive form so far this season.
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It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
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MAX KRUSE
The name Max Kruse will be familiar to Liverpool fans. He’s been linked to a multitude of Premier League clubs before, including the Reds – albeit rather speculatively – this summer.
The 26 year-old’s career has only moved in one direction over the last three years. 13 goals for St. Pauli in the second division saw him move to Freiburg, where eleven top flight goals earned him a switch to Borussia Monchengladbach last summer.
In his first season, he netted eleven times, and many feel he was unlucky to miss out on Germany’s World Cup squad.
Kruse has been in habitually consistent form this season too, netting twice in just three Bundesliga starts.
But the forward’s goal tally is only half the equation; having started his career as an attacking midfielder, Kruse is a playmaking centre-forward, no stranger to the assists charts and a talismanic contributor to open play.
Indeed, he’s also notched up two assists this term and, as viewable below, ranks first in the Bundesliga in terms of key passes, only matched by Arjen Robben:
Here’s his overall stats from the season thus far:
And a look at the Germany international in action:
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Liverpool are reportedly on the look-out for a striker in January and Kruse could fit the bill. And having signed him for just €2.5million, Gladbach can certainly be convinced into selling for profit.
Baba Rahman
Defender Jose Enrique has just only returned to the Liverpool first team after a lengthy injury lay-off, but now 28 years of age and having never really excelled for the Reds, it remains to be seen just how long he’ll last at Anfield.
In terms of potential replacements currently plying their trade in the Bundesliga, 20 year-old Baba Rahman has shown fantastic form since joining FC Augsburg this summer.
As viewable below, nobody in the German top flight has come close to matching his 5.7 tackles per match so far this season:
Whilst he’s also found two assists from left-back in just six outings. Here’s a look at the Ghana international’s attacking stats:
Baba Rahman has come to the Premier League’s attention before; back in 2012 he was linked to Manchester City and Arsenal, and now appears to be finally delivering on his touted potential.
Here’s a look at the young full-back in action, albeit against some rather poor quality opposition:
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A January move can be firmly ruled out, but Liverpool would be wise to bear Rahman in mind for next summer.
HAKAN CALHANOGLU
Bayer Leverkusen youngster Hakan Calhanoglu is one of the most promising youngsters the Bundesliga currently has to offer.
The German outfit snapped up the midfielder for €14.5million this summer after netting eleven league goals for Hamburg. This 41-yard free kick particularly stood out:
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The Turkish international has started life at the BayArena in proficient fashion, finding one goal and two assists from seven Bundesliga appearances, including another potent free kick against Werder Bremen:
Here’s Calhanoglu’s stats from the campaign:
And a look at the 20 year-old in action: //www.youtube.com/embed/YeDo6l-DDsE?rel=0 He already looks set for an enormous future, so if Liverpool wish to get their hands on the Leverkusen ace any time soon, it will likely take a club-record fee.
Haris SEFEROVIC
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Haris Seferovic is just one of an impressive young Swiss cohort that appear to be taking the Bundesliga by storm. He endured a slightly disappointing World Cup, netting just once in four appearances – this point-blank finish against Ecuador:
Bu the 22 year-old has been one of the German top flight’s most potent entities so far this season, netting three times in just six appearances, including this rather incredible header against Mainz:
The Frankfurt front-man’s contribution to open play remains rather limited, as viewable below:
But he’s already proving to be a lethal finisher with both head and feet, and is undoubtedly one to watch for the future.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Of all the names on this list, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar remains by far the most likely to turn up on Merseyside in January, having already been linked with a Liverpool switch in the tabloids:
The Schalke assassin may not offer too much to open play, as shown in his passing statistics from last season:
But in front of goal, he’s absolutely lethal, boasting returns of 35 in 65 for Oranje and 93 in 145 for the Miners, including this effort against Chelsea in the Champions League’s group stages:
He’s shown decent domestic form too this season, as detailed below:
And most appealingly, the 31 year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and although Schalke have plans for a new deal, they reportedly want to slash his wages.
That makes a January deal seem all the more likely, but Liverpool are by no means the only interested party. Here’s a look at Huntelaar’s top five Bundesliga goals:
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