10 Bundesliga players who could move in January

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 6 min read

The January transfer window promises to be a busy one for the Bundesliga, especially with so many Germany-based players having starred at the winter World Cup in Qatar…

There were seven Bundesliga players involved when Argentina edged France in World Cup final at Lusail Stadium, Bayern Munich alone providing deposed world champions France with four players while the Albiceleste had Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios in their number.

The Bundesliga has also become accustomed to cashing in on players when their stock is high, World Cup or not, with England's Premier League normally their destination of choice. Football Transfers looks at 10 potential movers this winter…

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Randal Kolo Muani

Randal Kolo Muani has gone from promising prospect to bona fide star in double-quick time. Eintracht Frankfurt picked him up on a free from Nantes at the start of the season and he duly fired himself into the France squad, attracting Didier Deschamps' attention with eight goals and 11 assists in the first half of the season. Then helped France into the World Cup final with his first international strike a minute after coming on against Morocco. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are interested, but will now have to pay big money.

Josko Gvardiol

Another player who figures to break the bank is Josko Gvardiol, widely regarded to have been the best centre-back in Qatar, even if Lionel Messi sat him down for Argentina's third goal against Croatia in the other semi-final. Signed a new five-year contract with RB Leipzig in September. Man City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are at the top of a shrinking list of clubs that can now afford him.

Christopher Nkunku

If Gvardiol plumps for Stamford Bridge he will soon find current Leipzig colleague Christopher Nkunku as a teammate. The Frenchman missed the World Cup through injury, but already went through his Chelsea medical in Frankfurt last summer and is expected to complete a €60 million transfer in due course.

READ: How Chelsea will line up with Nkunku and Gvardiol

Jude Bellingham

Perhaps the most in-demand player in world football right now, England midfielder Jude Bellingham looks to have already outgrown Borussia Dortmund. Primarily linked with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Man City, the race to sign him could see him move in January with Dortmund happy to cash in on young assets, as seen in recent summers with Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland.

Youssoufa Moukoko

Unusually for Dortmund, they have dropped the ball with Youssoufa Moukoko's contract, and the 18-year-old Germany striker is available on a free at the end of the season. Says he loves the club, but a big-money move in January might make more sense for all involved now. Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are among those circling.

Evan N'Dicka

Evan N'Dicka shares Gvardiol's profile insofar as he is a left-footed centre-back who can also play left-back, and reads the game in a manner well beyond his years. Newcastle are interested and hope to get the Frenchman - who is rated at €19.3m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm - for a knockdown price in January with his Eintracht Frankfurt deal expiring in June.

Benjamin Pavard

Benjamin Pavard could have a second World Cup win under his belt by the time the January transfer window opens, but the France defender is growing frustrated with his career at Bayern Munich. ''There have been no concrete talks over new contract," he conceded recently. I've got immense respect for Bayern but I'm not against discovering a new project. Maybe now's the time. Why not discover new country?" Premier League big boys Man Utd and Chelsea are on standby.

Marcus Thuram

While Kolo Muani was added to France's World Cup squad after Nkunku's knee injury, Marcus Thuram was already in it. The son of France's record cap-holder Lilian Thuram, Marcus had 13 goals and four assists in 17 games for Borussia Monchengladbach in the first half of the season. Looks a thoroughbred among Foals now, and Newcastle and Tottenham are ready offer him a path to the Premier League.

Jeremie Frimpong

Statistically the best right-back in the Bundesliga this season per Football Transfers' official partner SciSports, Jeremie Frimpong comes top for dribbling, finishing and offensive positioning. As first reported by Jacque Talbot, Frimpong is on Man Utd's radar, the Old Trafford club needing to shore up options in the position with Aaron Wan-Bissaka out of favour and Diogo Dalot out of contract.

Konrad Laimer

Leipzig endure an exodus every season it would seem, and Konrad Laimer is yet another player about to leave the Red Bull Arena. Bayern have agreed terms with him on a summer free transfer, but if fellow midfielder Leon Goretzka continues to struggle with injury, and earlier deal can't be ruled out.