The 10 Bundesliga stars who could transfer this summer

Updated: 3 May 2024 15:16 BST
9 min read

Joshua Kimmich, Serhou Guirassy, Jeremie Frimpong, Bundesliga — © IMAGO

The Bundesliga has become one of Europe's most prolific sellers of elite talent.

The German top flight has served as a stepping stone for stars in years past and will continue to do so in the future. Many a household name at elite Premier League or LaLiga clubs got his first big break in the Bundesliga.

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From Kai Havertz to Jude Bellingham, the list of players who honed their skills at clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig is endless. The path from Germany to England or Spain is a well-trodden one and the summer of 2024 will once again see Bundesliga players snapped up by larger sides abroad.

So, here are 10 Bundesliga stars who could transfer this summer, not including loan stars such as Jadon Sancho, Ian Maatsen, Deniz Undav or Xavi Simons...

Joshua Kimmich (29, Bayern Munich)

Bucking the trend of young talent leaving the Bundesliga, Bayern veteran Joshua Kimmich could be on the way out this summer. The Munich outfit's vice-captain is out of contract in 2025 and is yet to agree fresh terms.

If Kimmich shows no indication of wanting to extend his stay at the Allianz Arena, Bayern will try to cash in on him. The versatile midfielder and full-back has no shortage of suitors and FootballTransfers has exclusively revealed that Arsenal could pounce on this potential opportunity.

Alphonso Davies (23, Bayern Munich)

Generally considered one of the best left-backs in the world, Alphonso Davies hasn't quite been his usual self in recent months and this has made Bayern reluctant to accede to his wage demands.

Like Kimmich, Davies is out of contract in 2025 and Bayern will look to sell unless the impasse in contract talks can be resolved. Real Madrid have been heavily linked with the Canadian, but they are not willing to pay more than €50 million for him. Los Blancos could play the long game and wait another year if Bayern's demands prove excessive.

Jeremie Frimpong (23, Bayer Leverkusen)

Nominally a full-back, Jeremie Frimpong is essentially a right-winger in Xabi Alonso's system at Bayer Leverkusen and he has been devastating. Frimpong has become one of Europe's most dangerous wide players and has no shortage of suitors.

The Dutchman failed to get a transfer in the summer of 2023, but 2024 could be different. Frimpong has a €40m release clause and the likes of Bayern, Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been linked.

Piero Hincapie (22, Bayer Leverkusen)

Versatile defender Piero Hincapie had a mixed bag of a season. Merely a bench warmer in the first half of the campaign, the Ecuador international reclaimed his place in the side while Bayer's first-choice centre-backs were at AFCON.

Regarded as one of the biggest defensive prospects in the game and comfortable centrally and on the left, the 22-year-old has been linked with Liverpool. In truth, however, we could have included every single one of Leverkusen's centre-backs on this list. Odilon Kossounou is also wanted by Liverpool, Jonathan Tah has admirers in Munich and the Premier League and Edmond Tapsoba is a target for Man Utd.

Willian Pacho (22, Eintracht Frankfurt)

From one Liverpool-linked Ecuadorian to another, Frankfurt star Willian Pacho is a sought-after commodity. Quick and very comfortable on the ball, the left-footed centre-back has been reliable for a hit-and-miss team.

Frankfurt's initial plan was to keep the 22-year-old until 2025, but interest from Liverpool and Arsenal has meant that Eintracht could look to cash in on him this summer. A €60m price tag has been slapped on his head. His 19-year-old teammate Hugo Larsson is wanted by the same clubs, but it looks unlikely that both will be sold in the same summer.

Serhou Guirassy (28, VfB Stuttgart)

Stuttgart sensation Serhou Guirassy has been making headlines for the best part of a year. After snubbing a Premier League transfer in the summer of 2023 and January 2024, the Guinea international could finally be on the move.

The 28-year-old is coming off a stunningly prolific season with Stuttgart and has a release clause of just €17.5m. The likes of Man Utd, West Ham and AC Milan have been associated with him. His teammates Hiroki Ito (€30m release clause) and Chris Führich (€25m release clause) are also the subjects of transfer interest.

Naby Keita (29, Werder Bremen)

Guirassy's international teammate Naby Keita could also be on the move this summer. In fact, it is expected that he will leave Werder Bremen after a disastrous year in northern Germany. The former Liverpool man arrived on a free transfer, but his signing has proved catastrophic.

Fitness issues restricted him to just five appearances and after going AWOL in mid-April, Keita was suspended until the end of the season and hit with one of the biggest fines in Bundesliga history. Though his contract at Werder runs until 2025, the player has reportedly already been informed that it will be terminated this summer.

Manu Kone (22, Borussia Mönchengladbach)

One of the Bundesliga's hottest commodities in 2022/23, the 23/24 season proved much less favourable for Manu Kone. The Gladbach midfielder struggled with fitness problems and was unable to consistently recapture his previous form.

Arsenal and Liverpool have been tracking him for some time, though whether they will make a move this summer is doubtful. Either way, Kone is expected to leave Gladbach and the Bundesliga are hoping to fetch at least €20m from his departure. Fellow midfielder Florian Neuhaus and defenders Ko Itakura and Nico Elvedi will also likely leave the struggling Foals.

Maximilian Beier (21, TSG Hoffenheim)

A player who isn't struggling is Maximial Beier. One of the breakout stars of the 2023/24 season, the 21-year-old forward has been the subject of transfer speculation for some time due to his impressive performances for Hoffenheim.

Beier had been linked with a switch to Liverpool and Brentford in January but decided to stay with his side until the end of the season. The rapid centre-forward has a €30m release clause and will likely head to greener pastures this summer.

Benjamin Sesko (20, RB Leipzig)

Another up-and-coming talented striker and the last player on our list is Benjamin Sesko. The RB Leipzig sharpshooter was quite prolific in his first Bundesliga season despite not always being a starter and this is actually a problem as far as the Red Bulls are concerned.

In order to land him from sister club Salzburg, Leipzig had to accept a release clause of just €50m and many clubs in the Premier League are licking their lips because of this. FootballTransfers has exclusively revealed that Sesko is a top target for Arsenal, but Chelsea and Man Utd are also long-term admirers of the Slovenian.