The winter window is now officially open with January offering Premier League sides a chance to bolster their squads, with transfer speculation set to intensify throughout the mid-season window.
Each side will be well aware of their strengths and weaknesses following the opening months of the campaign and could look to enter the market as they bid to build on their progress or revive their fortunes.
Ahead of the January transfer window we’ve looked across the continent at several players who could be of interest to Premier League clubs, with this feature heading to Germany’s top tier to profile some intriguing talents.
Ozan Kabak
One of a number of players to have been linked with solving Liverpool’s injury crisis at centre-back, Ozan Kabak has won plenty of admirers despite featuring in a Schalke team free-falling towards relegation.
Kabak was named as the Bundesliga’s Rookie of the Season during his debut campaign in Germany after initially signing for Stuttgart from Galatasaray, his performances quickly attracting the attention of Bundesliga rivals Schalke who activated the €15m release clause in his contract.
The 20-year-old’s time in Gelsenkirchen has proven difficult, however, with Schalke currently bottom of the division and on a run of 30 games without a win over two seasons, and the German outfit may look to cash in on the defender given their financial difficulties at present.
Kabak’s season to date has proven a nightmare with the defender having been booked three times, sent off and banned for spitting in just eight Bundesliga appearances, and now could be the right opportunity for a Premier League side to prise a promising but frustrated talent away from Schalke.
The youngster is dominant in aerial duels despite standing at just 6ft 1in, whilst he is comfortable progressing the ball forward and possesses great timing and recovery pace.
Manchester United, Leicester and Crystal Palace have all also been linked for a player who, whilst not quite the finished article, has the talent and potential to develop into a leading defender.
Marcel Sabitzer
The signing of Marcel Sabitzer is reportedly high on Jose Mourinho’s wish-list as Tottenham manager, the midfielder having impressed as the creative heartbeat of an exciting RB Leipzig side.
Sabitzer starred as Leipzig eliminated the north London side from last season’s Champions League, scoring twice in a 3-0 second leg victory for the Bundesliga side, and would provide any side with an injection of industry and invention.
The Austrian international is a complete midfield talent and amongst the most well-rounded players in Germany’s top flight, Sabitzer tailor-made for Mourinho’s midfield with his ability to press tirelessly and burst forward in search of goals.
Arsenal have also been credited with an interest in a player who scored 16 goals and provided 10 assists in all competitions last season, with reports suggesting a fee in the region of £40m would be enough to prise the club captain from the Red Bull Arena.
Robin Quaison
Any side looking for a potential bargain this winter could do worse than make a move for Robin Quaison, the forward having entered the final months of his contract at Mainz and free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign sides.
Quaison enjoyed the best season of his career last term with 13 league goals and a further two assists and whilst the performances of the Sweden international have dipped this season he remains an intriguing prospect for bottom-half sides seeking firepower.
Burnley have previously been linked with a move for a player comfortable in a variety of roles across the forward line and in midfield, Quaison’s muscular frame, pace and dribbling ability seemingly suited to the demands of English football.
27-year-old Quaison has scored eight times in 28 appearances at international level for Sweden and will form part of the side that competes at this summer’s European Championships, where the star could attract significant interest as a potential free agent in the shop window of a major tournament.
Leon Bailly
Leon Bailly is another name that has featured regularly in gossip columns when it comes to Premier League sides, the winger having been on the radar of the division’s ‘big six’ for several seasons.
Bailly has frustrated on occasion for club side Bayer Leverkusen but at his best is a brilliant talent, a wide forward who combines scintillating speed with trickery and an ability to score goals.
Chelsea have been routinely linked with the 23-year-old in recent years, whilst Manchester City have been credited with an interest in Bailly as a potential Leroy Sane replacement and Manchester United as an alternative to top target Jadon Sancho.
The Jamaica international has begun the new season in fine form and has scored nine goals and provided six assists in 19 appearances in all competitions, whilst only six players have dribbled past more opponents in the Bundesliga this season.
The left-footed star is comfortable on either flank and can play as a central forward, his dynamism making him a hugely attractive option for Premier League sides seeking attacking threat this winter.
Daichi Kamada
Arsenal fans will be well aware of Daichi Kamada’s talents following the midfielder’s match-winning exploits in last season’s Europa League, scoring twice as Eintracht Frankfurt secured a 2-1 win at the Emirates in a clash that spelt the end for Unai Emery in north London.
Kamada’s double was part of a brilliant run of form in European competition last season as the Japan international began to fulfil his potential, scoring six goals in the Europa League to finish behind only Bruno Fernandes amongst the tournament’s leading scorers.
The 24-year-old finished the campaign with 10 goals in all competitions and has begun the new season impressively, providing seven goal involvements in 13 league appearances for the Bundesliga side during the current campaign.
Kamada possesses flawless close control and ranks behind only Thomas Muller for expected assists in Germany’s top flight, whilst he ranks fifth amongst all players for key passes and sixth for shot-creating actions this term.
The midfielder’s international teammate, Wataru Endo, could also attract Premier League suitors, with the defensive-minded midfielder topping the Bundesliga charts for tackles won and ranking second for pressures.
Matheus Cunha
RB Leipzig are amongst the best-ran clubs in European football when it comes to recruitment, though the Bundesliga outfit may just be regretting their decision to sell Matheus Cunha to divisional rivals Hertha Berlin.
Cunha spent two seasons with the Red Bull-owned outfit but struggled to make an impression, scoring just two league goals – including the Bundesliga’s Goal of the Season for 2019 – before heading to the German capital in search of regular first-team football.
The youngster has since thrived in Berlin and scored five goals in 11 appearances after signing in last season’s January transfer window, before beginning the new campaign with six goals and two assists including strikes against both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
That is stunning ????
Matheus Cunha's strike gives Hertha Berlin the lead against Dortmund! pic.twitter.com/E4GQcP8fwk
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 21, 2020
The 21-year-old’s form saw him called up to the senior Brazil squad for World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru in October, following a formidable record of 16 goals in just 18 appearances at U23 level.
Jadon Sancho is the only player in the division to have dribbled past more opposition players this season than Cunha, an exciting young talent who is reportedly on the radar of both Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
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