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Rating the impact of the five most expensive Bundesliga to Premier League transfers

Timo Werner looks set to be the next exciting addition to the Premier League after Chelsea agreed a deal to sign the forward from RB Leipzig, the west London outfit agreeing to pay the release clause of the highly-rated Germany international.

The forward is likely to soon complete a move to Stamford Bridge and arrives with a big reputation from the Bundesliga, Werner having scored 75 goals in just 123 league appearances for Leipzig over the past four seasons.

Chelsea’s anticipated capture of Werner – for a fee of around £50m – is set to make the striker one of the most expensive Bundesliga to Premier League signings, but how have the other marquee arrivals from Germany fared after arriving in English football?

Here are our ratings of the impact of the most expensive Bundesliga to Premier League transfers:

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United (£30m)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan established himself as one of the finest playmakers in German football during a three season spell with Borussia Dortmund, arriving as a club-record signing from Shakhtar Donetsk and quickly becoming a central figure.

The Armenian international attracted Premier League interest after a season which saw him finish as the Bundesliga’s leading assist provider, his performances seeing Mkhitaryan named as the division’s Player’s Player of the Season before completing a £30m move to Manchester United in 2016.

The midfielder arrived as part of an expensive summer outlay under Jose Mourinho, though struggled to replicate his previous form despite scoring 11 times in all competitions as United won a League Cup and Europa League double in his debut season – scoring in the latter final against Ajax.

Unable to produce consistently or command regular first-team football, however, he joined Arsenal in a high-profile swap-deal involving Alexis Sanchez, but his fortunes failed to significantly improve during 18 months in north London.

Currently rebuilding his career during a season-long loan deal at Roma, Mkhitaryan’s underwhelming spell in English football looks all but over.

Rating: 3/10

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Granit Xhaka – Borussia Monchengladbach to Arsenal (£35m)

Having captained club and country whilst still in his early twenties, the combative Xhaka looked to be the authoritative midfield presence Arsenal had been lacking upon his arrival in the Premier League four years ago.

The Switzerland international has proven a hugely divisive figure during his time at the Emirates, however, and continues to polarise opinion between the club’s supporters, the error-prone midfielder failing to develop as hoped and often producing moments of inexplicable rashness.

Named as club captain before being stripped of the role following an angry confrontation with his own supporters earlier this season, Xhaka has since flourished in recent months under the guidance of new manager Mikel Arteta.

Deployed in a ‘quarter-back’ role covering Arsenal’s left-flank, Xhaka’s passing range has been unlocked under the Spaniard’s tutelage and after seemingly heading for the exit door has reestablished himself in north London.

He may never be the all-action commanding midfielder once hoped, but he remains a popular figure in the Gunners’ dressing room and a player capable of playing a role in the side’s development under Arteta.

Rating: 4/10

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Leroy Sane – Schalke to Manchester City (£37m)

One of the Premier League’s best Bundesliga buys, Leroy Sane has starred in English football since the German international moved to Manchester City from Schalke for an initial fee of £37m in 2016.

After an impressive debut campaign his second season saw him truly shine, being crowned as the PFA Young Player of the Year as City won the Premier League title with a record 100 point haul, whilst he followed that up by registering double figures for both goals and assists as Pep Guardiola’s side claimed an unprecedented domestic treble in 2018/19.

The winger has failed to make a single league appearance this campaign as he recovers from an ACL injury picked up in the Community Shield victory over Liverpool in August, although his future remains uncertain as Bayern Munich continue to circle the player ahead of a summer move.

Should Sane return to the Bundesliga it will be a huge blow to both City and fans of the Premier League, the 24-year-old’s electric pace and wicked delivery from out wide having made him one of the most exciting attacking talents in the division in recent seasons.

Rating: 8/10

Five of the best Germans in Premier League history

Naby Keita – RB Leipzig to Liverpool (£52.75m)

Jurgen Klopp was prepared to wait a year to secure the services of the highly-rated Naby Keita, the German having been hugely impressed by the performances of the all-action midfielder at RB Leipzig.

Keita’s drive and dynamism was hoped to bring a new dimension to a Liverpool midfield full of industry but often lacking creativity, though a series of injury problems have limited the Guinea international’s impact since his marquee arrival at Anfield.

The 25-year-old has made just 20 Premier League starts over the course of his two seasons on Merseyside, with just four for the current campaign thus far. Keita has shown glimpses of his evident talent on occasion, but has struggled for consistency and rhythm as his body continues to fail him.

Klopp remains confident there is a leading player in a midfielder who established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best during a two-year spell at Leipzig, and will hope Keita can finally deliver on his potential in the coming seasons.

Rating: 4/10

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Kevin De Bruyne – Wolfsburg to Manchester City (£55m)

De Bruyne’s initial spell in English football was a disappointing period at Chelsea, where after struggling to establish himself he headed to Germany to continue his development, initially spending a season on-loan with Werder Bremen before a permanent move to Wolfsburg.

The move proved to be the perfect platform for De Bruyne to showcase his talents, being named as the Bundesliga’s Footballer of the Year before heading to Manchester City in a record £55m move.

Since moving to the Etihad De Bruyne has developed into one of the Premier League’s finest footballers, becoming a key figure in a City squad that has won back-to-back titles under Pep Guardiola in 2018 and 2019.

In four seasons De Bruyne has twice been named as the club’s Player of the Season, whilst winning seven major trophies and being part of the side which won English football’s first-ever domestic treble.

No player has ever reached 50 Premier League assists in quicker fashion than the brilliant Belgian, who continues to enhance his reputation as arguably the best attacking midfielder in world football at present.

Rating: 10/10

Read – Five of the most successful British exports to the Bundesliga

Read Also – Five of the most embarrassing own goals in Premier League history

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