The advent of the New Year means that a whole host of Bundesliga players are about to enter the final six months of their contracts making them potential free agents at the end of the season if a new deal is not signed and sealed before then. Here we bring you a best XI of players who find themselves in this position.
1- Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg)
The Belgian keeper joined the club way back in 2015 after spells with Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen and has pretty much been an ever-present ever since. He has notched up over 200 Bundesliga appearances for die Wölfe.
He will definitely leave the club at the end of the season though as he looks for one final challenge in his career. “For me, the time has come to say goodbye after nine years at VfL Wolfsburg and once again take on a new challenge,” he has said. “
2- Marius Wolf (Borussia Dortmund)
Last season saw Wolf become a German international as his form coincided with Dortmund’s challenge for the Bundesliga title. Whilst not defensively the soundest, his forays down the flank and his deliveries were a real weapon in BVB’s arsenal.
It currently looks like he is not going to be offered a new contract and this will alert Bundesliga clubs as well as those in Qatar and Saudi Arabia wishing to add an European name.
3- Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig)
It feels like the end of an era is taking shape at RB Leipzig with Marcel Halstenberg leaving last summer and Emil Forsberg departing for America. The next ‘veteran’ to leave could well be defender Lukas Klostermann, who has been with the Roten Bullen since joining from VfL Bochum with Leipzig in the 2.Bundesliga. He has since gained 22 caps for Germany and made over 200 Bundesliga appearances.
4- Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
Hummels extended his contract last season for another year, and such is the situation at Borussia Dortmund that it is conceivable that he will be offered another deal. Neither Niklas Süle or Nico Schlotterback are absolutely convincing at the heart of the BVB back line, and once again 35-year-old Hummels is arguably their most consistent centre back.
5- Robin Knoche (Union Berlin)
Knoche was linked with a move away in the summer and the arrival of Leonardo Bonucci made it seem that his days were numbered. He has however started 11 of Union’s 16 Bundesliga matches so far this season. Whether he and the club look to sort out an extension remains unclear.
6- Robert Skov (Hoffenheim)
Despite struggling with injuries somewhat, Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen is very keen to tie Danish left-side full back Skov to a new deal in Sinsheim. He has three goals and three assists so far this season and still possesses one of the most accurate left-feet in the Bundesliga.
7- Leandro Barreiro (Mainz)
The Luxembourger has really come to prominence with the Nullfünfer over the past two seasons and there will be no shortage of clubs interested in tempting him away from Mainz. Last season sporting director Martin Schmidt commented that “half of Europe” was in the stands to watch Barreiro. The club will do very well to keep hold of the 23-year-old midfielder.
8- Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Like teammate Hummels, Reus signed a new deal last season, but his future remains unclear. He gave up the captaincy at the start of the new campaign, but remains an important part of the first-team this season making 11 starts and scoring three goals.
There are however rumours of a spat with coach Edin Terzic and the question as to which of them will gain the upper hand and outlast the other remains open. Reus is a club legend and it’s very hard to imagine him playing elsewhere.
9- Takuma Asano (VfL Bochum)
The Japanese international has shown himself to be a very able performer in the Bundesliga during his three seasons with Bochum. He will be remembered mainly for the goal scored against Germany in the World Cup in Qatar. The 28-year-old is taking his time before committing to a new deal with offers sure to be coming his way in the near future.
10- Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich)
Choupo-Moting really stepped up for Bayern last season following the departure of Robert Lewandowski and scored ten goals as the Rekordmeister sealed another Bundesliga title. The arrival of Harry Kane however and the demand for Mathys Tel to be given more game time has shunted him down the pecking order.
He can still provide decent cover for Bayern, but the chance for more starts elsewhere could prove tempting.
11- Sheraldo Becker (Union Berlin)
For a time last season Becker was the striker everyone was talking about with his excellent start to the season. He scored six in the first seven games as Union’s swift counter-attacks found out a number of teams. He ended the season with 11 goals, but was a potential transfer target in the summer. Die Eisernen’s woes this season and interest from elsewhere could see the club and player part company.
Subs:
Frederik Rönnow (Union Berlin), Mitchell Weiser (Werder Bremen), Nadiem Amiri (Bayer Leverkusen), Kevin Stöger (VfL Bochum), Kevin Behrens (Union Berlin), Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz)
