Thursday 10 January 2019 13:28, UK
With the January transfer window well under way, we take a look at five Bundesliga players who are reportedly attracting interest from Premier League clubs.
The transfer rumours are picking up pace and there is plenty of attention on the players in Germany. Here we look at five players who could be making a move to England this month.
The future is unclear for James Rodriguez, with his two-year loan at Bayern Munich ending at the end of the season and unlikely to be made permanent. He is also not needed at his parent club, Real Madrid, with the Daily Mirror reporting that Liverpool and Arsenal are considering a move.
Rodriguez had a successful first season in the Bundesliga but has had a tricky time under new manager Niko Kovac. Arsenal are said to be in pole position for the 27-year-old, who is still in his prime-playing years and also has spells in Portugal and France under his belt.
Brother of Chelsea playmaker Eden, Thorgan Hazard has been linked with Liverpool by multiple outlets, while Borussia Dortmund are also said to want the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder.
However, Hazard is unlikely to move in January, telling Gladbach's official website: "Max Eberl [director of sport] and I spoke before the winter break and I confirmed that the only important thing for me right now is that I can help our team here to be successful.
"Max knows that my head is here at Borussia and I am fully concentrated on my job here. I am not considering a transfer right now. I cannot say what will happen after the end of this season. I may possibly extend my contract as I'm very happy here and my family are also settled. Max and I will speak about this when it is the right time."
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl is a man in demand, and Bild reports that Tottenham are hot on the heels of the Germany international. The 23-year-old's current deal runs until 2021 and, in a twist of fate, Dortmund and Tottenham will play each other in the last 16 of the Champions League in a few weeks' time.
Weigl has fallen down the pecking order under new manager Lucien Favre, although Dortmund want to keep him in case Axel Witsel gets injured. His former manager Thomas Tuchel would also like to bring him to his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, but any decision on his future is unlikely to be made before the summer.
Sky sources understand that Tottenham are keen on Hoffenheim midfielder Florian Grillitsch and have sent scouts to watch him this season. The Austria international is also thought to have a release clause in his contract - which has two-and-a-half years left to run - of just over £18m.
Grillitsch's name is thought to be on a list of potential successors to Mousa Dembele, who appears close to a move to the Chinese Super League side Beijing Sinobo Guoan. He has started in 12 of the 15 Bundesliga games he has appeared in this season and his only goal came against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
Sky Germany have reported that Borussia Monchengladbach winger Patrick Herrmann is on the radar of Crystal Palace and Newcastle, with the pair already approaching the club over the sale of their player.
Having previously managed in the Bundesliga, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl would also like to sign the 27-year-old, who has scored two goals in nine league appearances this season. All three teams are in need of firepower up front for their respective Premier League campaigns.
German outlet Express says Herrmann could move for as little as £4m with his contract expiring at the end of the season. However, should he not sign a new deal and the teams are still interested in a few months, they could land the winger for free.
