The Bundesliga campaign gets underway again in three weeks’ time when RB Leipzig entertain FC Bayern on Friday 20th January. It’s a game we’ll be watching here at SBOTOP and one which will give a strong indication of whether or not Die Bayern can be stopped.
Julian Nagelsmann’s team is four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with SC Freiburg and Red Bull in pursuit, while Borussia Dortmund are back in sixth place and nine points adrift.
And with the January transfer window fast approaching, the high-flyers will be working hard to keep hold of their best players while trying to strengthen if the price is right.
The champions and league leaders are keen to extend the stays of some of their brightest young players with the German press saying the club is eager to tie down Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, and particularly France wing-back Lucas Hernandez, who suffered an ACL injury in Qatar but whose contract expires in 2024.
Some of the Bundesliga’s brightest young stars excelled at the World Cup. Bayern’s Musiala was a bright spark in Germany’s poor campaign, while BVB sensation Jude Bellingham was one of the standout performers of the competition in England’s journey to the quarter-finals.
Bellingham was at Turf Moor on Tuesday to watch his kid brother Jobe play for Birmingham City against Burnley in the Championship and the UK press has been awash with speculation as to the BVB man’s future as Europe’s top clubs continue to watch his progress.
His value increased during the World Cup and German newspaper the Bild says Dortmund have slapped a €150-M price tag on Bellingham’s head.
Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real Madrid are all reported to be interested in the player who is fast becoming one of the most sought-after box-to-box midfielders in world football.
He is contracted until 2026 and Bellingham’s representatives are in constant contact with the club, but BVB will do well to hold on to their fastest rising star in the summer.
Coaches are often, rightly, reticent when talking about players of other clubs but Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp expressed his admiration over Bellingham.
“Everybody knows Jude is an exceptional player. The things he can do already are difficult to learn. The things he has to improve on are easy to learn. He is a really good player. Jude plays so mature like a 28-year-old,” said Klopp.
“Everybody already knew his skills, but I have no idea what that means for the money side of it,” he added.
Foals working on a Sommer deal
In other Bundesliga 2022 news, the future of Borussia Monchengladbach keeper Yann Sommer has been under the spotlight as the Swiss number one has been linked with Bayern Munich as a long-term replacement for Manuel Neuer.
Sommer has said that discussions are ongoing with Die Fohlen over an extended contract and the club, currently eighth in the Bundesliga table, and his current club would dearly love to keep their number one as they push for a European place.
The 34-year-old is Monchengladbach through and through, signing for the club in 2014 and making 272 appearances as well as picking up 80 caps for Switzerland. He has another few seasons at the very top of the game, and Die Fohlen will do all they can to keep Sommer at the club.
Meanwhile, a former Schalke 04 star could be on his way to Borussia Dortmund if Italian outlet Calciomercato has it right.
Juventus are said to be happy to offload American midfielder Weston McKennie and he is on BVB’s radar as they look to strengthen in 2023. The Old Lady will be happy to listen to offers as she has a surplus of midfield operators in Turin.
News has also emerged that TSG Hoffenheim have reached an agreement to sign Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg. The Nice star has been on loan at Sevilla, but has been underused at the La Liga outfit and TSG are set to sign him on loan with an option to buy.
Dolberg is due to join Hoffenheim on 3rd January and he could slot in nicely to a team which has suffered injuries to key forwards, Munas Dabbur and Ihlas Bebou.
With 11 goals in 40 appearances for Denmark, many from the bench, Dolberg could be a big asset to Hoffenheim who find themselves down in 11th position.
So, with just three weeks to wait before the action begins we are sure to see some incomings and outgoings. But who can challenge Bayern in 2023? Well, the latest Bundesliga 2022 betting odds suggest, if anyone, it will be RB Leipzig or Borussia Dortmund. If Die Roten Bullen can pull off a big win on 20th January, then they will close the gap at the top to three points and then it’s game on.
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