1. Kevin De Bruyne to bolt ?
The widespread view in Germany that Wolfsburg would hold onto their Belgian star for at least another season before handing over the goods to Bayern Munich is beginning to show cracks.
As some sharp-eyed observers have noticed, Wolves CEO, Klaus Allofs has, in the space of a month, gone from unequivocally ruling out a sale to a slightly more open-ended position and the only thing to conclude is that the reports of a whopping 86 million euro from Manchester City are having the desired effect.
For all Wolfsburg’s voracious ambition and desire to retain their most important player, the chance to bank a record-breaking Bundesliga fee – far in excess of the 49 million euros Livepool paid Hoffenheim for Roberto Firmino recently – simply would be too enticing to turn down and even if Allofs, himself, said ‘nein’, it’s no foregone conclusion that hard-headed businessmen on the VW club’s supervisory board will agree.
Contrary to media stories in the UK, De Bruyne, the newly-crowned German League Player of the Year, has not yet demanded to leave, but understandably does like the look of the City offer (a life-changing five-year deal worth 20 million euros net per season).
2. Keep right for Destro
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Bayer Leverkusen have been in touch with Roma about the availability of Italian international striker, Matia Destro, who spent the second-half of last season on loan at Milan.
Leverkusen director of sport, Rudi Voller – who has strong ties to the ‘giallorossi‘ after both playing and coaching there – believes the 24-year-old will be an excellent alternative/sidekick to veteran ‘Werkself’ front-man, Stefan Kießling and is hoping to take him on a ‘loan first, buy later’ basis.
Leverkusen’s Italian right-back, Giulio Donati also could come into the equation as bait. Bayer will have to be sharp; Fiorentina are in the hunt as well.
3. Dortmund prospect for gold at Ajax
One of the most impressive young midfield all-rounders in Europe today, Ajax’s Davy Klaassen is thought to feature on the shopping list of Dortmund general manager, Michael Zorc.
Leading Dutch magazine, ELF Voetbal, claim the German champions of 2011 and 2012 are smitten by the 22-year-old’s creativity, dynamism and awareness in a box-to-box role or as a number ten and are close to making a 18 million euro bid.
The Dortmunder are in the market for another striker too and have been linked with Tottenham outcast, Roberto Soldado.
4. Start what you Finnish
Following the departure to Paris Saint-Germain of brilliant young keeper, Kevin Trapp, Eintracht Frankfurt are busy searching high and low for a replacement.
One possible target could be Kaiserslautern and Germany Under 20 custodian, Marius Müller, while another rumoured to be under consideration is Slovak-born Finnish national teamer, Lukas Hradecky, who earns his corn in Denmark with Brondby.
Danish sources suggest the 2 million euro- rated Hradecky is very keen to move to the Bundesliga and as a German-speaker, he would have no problem settling in.
5. Extensive experience necessary
Needing to fill a large hole up front after Argentine striker, Franco Di Santo skipped town to join Schalke, Werder Bremen seem to be concentrating on the recruitment of a spearhead with bags of Bundesliga know-how, principally looking at Stuttgart’s Bosnian international, Vedad Ibisevic and the 36-year-old Peruvian, Claudio Pizarro, who was released by Bayern Munich this summer.
If Pizarro does return to the Weserstadion, it will be his third sojourn in Green-and-White.