Top 10 young Bundesliga talents
Bundesliga may have lost its shine in the recent years with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund becoming the two dominant forces fiercely competing for the silverware. However, it has always been the hub of the best footballing talents and boasts some of the finest young talents who are turning heads with their eye catching performances, with several big names in football keeping tabs on them. Here is a compilation of some of the most promising youngsters from the Bundesliga who are here to make it big in the footballing world.
Please note that likes of Mario Gotze, Julian Draxler, Ter Stagen have been ignored as they have already well established themselves in their trade and are first choices and most sought after talents in the league. The list focuses on players who have recently caught the limelight and are on their way to be star players.
NETANYA, ISRAEL – JUNE 12: Kevin Volland of Germany controles the ball during the UEFA European U21 Championship Group B match between Russia and Germany at Netanya Stadium on June 12, 2013 in Netanya, Israel. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
1. Kevin Volland
He may be just 21 years old, but he can play in almost any attacking position and is a promising young German striker. He began his career as a teenager at 1860 Munchen and has taken the league by storm with his transfer to Hoffenheim. In his very inaugural season with the club, he has scored 6 goals and assisted 12 in the club’s survival from relegation by the skin of teeth. He is also in red hot form as with not even half the season gone, he has netted 5 goals against likes of Hamburger, Stuttgart, Monchengladbach. Already a superstar youngster, he has established himself as a dependable striker.
BERN, SWITZERLAND – OCTOBER 15: Granit Xhaka of Switzerland in action during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier match between Switzerland and Slovenia match held at Stade de Suisse on October 15, 2013 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Harold Cunningham/Getty Images)
2. Granit Xhaka
Manchester United had set its sight on him when Basel most incredibly ousted them out of the Champions League. But they missed out on him with Monchengladbach winning the race to sign him. Otmar Hitzfeld has bestowed upon him the title of ‘Swiss Schweinsteiger’. Sitting deep into the midfield, he has the ability to control and direct the play, besides intelligently breaking up play. He is hailed as the best Swiss talent and Everton and Inter Milan are reportedly interested in his signature.
3. Leon Goretzka
His incredible performances of Vlf Bochum in the Bundesliga 2 made one of the first division giants, FC Schalke to get his signature as a direct replacement for Lewis Holtby fighting off Dortmund this summer. Incredible is the fact that even though he is just 18, he has an incredible footballing brain. He can create space and knock the ball around very well for his age. He has already scored a goal in his 6 appearances for Schalke with a stunning equaliser against Braunschweig. With regular playing time in the top division, he can establish himself as a top central midfielder.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 15: Marco Rojas of the Victory poses with the Johnny Warren Medal as the Hyundai A-League Player of the Year Award during the 2013 FFA A-League and W-League Awards at Hilton Hotel on April 15, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
4. Marco Rojas
The ‘Kiwi Messi’, attracted huge interest from likes of Liverpool before making the astronomical leap from A-League to Bundesliga. Even though an unfortunate training injury means he is yet to don the Stuttgart jersey on the field, the Newzealander was by far the best player in A league. How the 21 year old fares in the Bundesliga is yet to be seen, but he has all the skills to make it to the top.
NETANYA, ISRAEL – JUNE 12: Matthias Ginter of Germany controles the ball during the UEFA European U21 Championship Group B match between Russia and Germany at Netanya Stadium on June 12, 2013 in Netanya, Israel. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
5. Matthias Ginter
He is a 18 year old centre back with a mind of an 80 years old. Versatile and well built he marks up important players very well. He also posseses remarkable heading abilities and perfectly timed jumps. Last season, he not only demonstrated his rock solid defending but scored too. The Fritz Walter Gold Medal winner in both 2012 and 2013, he is certainly the next big name in defence.
NOVI SAD, SERBIA – MAY 30: Emre Can of Germany in action during the U19 Hungary v U19 Germany Elite Round match at Slana Bara stadium on May 30, 2012 in Novi Sad, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic / Getty Images)
6.Emre Can
He is one of the best talents in defensive midfield. However, his talent never got showcased much due to presence of heavy weights in likes of Schweinsteiger, Javi Martinez and new arrivals of Gotze and Thiago. His move to Bayern Leverkusen is a win-win scenario for both parties. While he now also get to feature in the Champions League and play as a regular in Bundesliga, he is bound to achieve new heights and realise his potential.
PETAH TIQWA, ISRAEL – JUNE 06: Pierre-Michel Lasogga of Germany gestures during the UEFA European Under 21 Championship match between Netherlands and Germany at Ha Moshava Stadium on June 6, 2013 in Petah Tiqwa, Israel. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
7. Pierre-Michel Lasogga
He is one of the most physical strikers of his age group in the world, possessing a play style similar to Lukaku. He was a star at Hetha Berlin but a ligament injury kept him out most of the season and the club got relegated. However, Hamburger SV may have stuck gold by signing him on loan with his 6 goals in 6 matches including a hat trick against Nuremberg in his only second outing for the club. With amazing height and physicality he can last grueling 90 minutes with ease and is dubbed to become the next Mario Gomez.
ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Giuseppe Biava (R) of S.S. Lazio competes for the ball with Patrick Hermann of VfL Borussia Monchengladbach during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between S.S. Lazio and VfL Borussia Monchengladbach at Stadio Olimpico on February 21, 2013 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
8.Patrick Herrmann
The current no. 7 in an amazingly talented Monchengladbach side is their academy graduate and incredibly talented 22 year old winger, Patrick Herrmann. From playing dummy, creating spaces out of absolute nowhere and making a fool of defenders, he has amazing tricks up his sleeve to assist and score. Several big clubs including Arsenal have their sights set on him and he is just adding to his transfer value with a string of amazing performances.
ANDRIA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 06: Moritz Leitner of Germany during U21 International Friendly match between Italy and Germany at Stadio Degli Ulivi on February 6, 2013 in Andria, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
9. Moritz Leitner
He was impressive in his time at Dortmund but immense competition for the playmaker’s spot kept him out of the playing XI. He found game time with Shinji Kagawa‘s departure but again Mario Gotze’s meteoric rise kept him warming benches. It was shocking why he was sent on a two year long loan deal at Stuttgart when the man who kept him out departed the club. However he has the perfect opportunity to impress Jurgen Klopp and win back a long term contract and place in the regulars list.
PETAH TIQWA, ISRAEL – JUNE 06: Goalkeeper Bernd Leno of Germany makes a save against Florian Jozefzoon of Netherlands during the UEFA European Under 21 Championship match between Netherlands and Germany at Ha Moshava Stadium on June 6, 2013 in Petah Tiqwa, Israel. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
10. Bernd Leno
Leno has had one of the most remarkable turn of events for him. He came as a cover for injured Rene Adler, played his first match after 4 days of coming in and ultimately churned out one amazing display after another such that the great veteran had to ultimately depart in search of more first team minutes. He is a remarkable shot stopper and is responsible for Leverkusen’s rise to third place in the league. The big German shall try and impress the bosses and gain a guaranteed place in the German contingent travelling for the World Cup in Brazil.