4 Bundesliga Players for Man City Fans to Watch Closely This Season
The widely anticipated return of the Bundesliga has given football fans a reason to get excited. Gone are the days of having only the Belarusian league to mull over, now we have the sheer luxury of watching Germany's barnstorming top flight - one of the most compelling in world football.
The Bundesliga is offering a glimpse of what football will look like in the coming weeks with no fans in attendance, it's a bit weird but better than nothing. With the Premier League still very much in lock-down, we highly suggest getting right into German football.
For the City fans out there struggling for reasons to have any interest in the Bundesliga, here's a look at four players you should be watching closely.
Angelino
Joining City as a teenager back in 2013, Angelino made his way through the youth ranks though struggled to hit the heights of the first team and was repeatedly loaned out. in 2018 he was even sold to PSV but immediately re-signed the following season.
At the start of the current season the 23-year-old was slowly introduced in the first team under Pep Guardiola making 11 appearances for the Cityzens before, yep you guessed it - he was loaned out again.
Angelino is now playing his football in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig and has emerged as a key player for Die Roten Bullen. The dynamic wing-back is known for his attacking prowess, which has often led to his deployment further up the field under Julien Nagelsmann.
The 23-year-old has turned in some quality performances for Leipzig, and City will be keeping a watchful eye on their loan star. Having expressed his desire to return to Manchester, Angelino could feature heavily for City next season.
Zack Steffen
Zack Steffen's transfer to City at the start of the season marked the biggest fee any MLS club had received for a goalkeeper. That fee, thought to be around the £7m mark, was a mere drop in the ocean to the Cityzens - though it remains to be seen what sort of impact Steffen will have in Manchester.
The 2018 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year was immediately loaned out to Fortuna Dusseldorf, where he has been a standout performer, although Dusseldorf still find themselves drifting dangerously close to the relegation zone in what has been a lacklustre season for the club.
Steffen is known for his reactive shot-stopping ability and displays cat-like reflexes, his performances in the Bundesliga this season has led to speculation surrounding his future – with Schalke and Dortmund believed to be monitoring the American.
With Claudio Bravo's contract up at the end of the season, recalling Steffen as a backup to Ederson may be the smartest option for City.
Dayot Upamecano
A host of elite European clubs are in hot pursuit of Dayot Upamecano and it comes as no surprise. The explosive centre-back has been in scintillating form for Leipzig this season and has been instrumental in their European and domestic endeavours.
The 21-year-old, who was entering the final year of his contract, has recently signed a one-year extension till 2022 – making any summer move a level more difficult.
City may find encouragement in the length of the extension being just one year and continue to pursue, potentially using Angelino as leverage for a swap deal.
Kingsley Coman
Bayern have made no secret of their interest in Leroy Sane - and if the City winger was to make the move to the German champions, it would have serious implication on Kingsley Coman's game time.
City have reportedly joined the race to sign Coman as the French international refuses to rule out a move away from Munich. A potential swap deal could leave both teams satisfied, though City face tough opposition from Real Madrid and Barcelona to land the 23-year-old.
Coman has recently expressed his admiration for Guardiola in an interview with Eurosport, saying: "For a player in my position, a winger who likes to hit and provoke, he is the best coach we can have because that is what demands us the most."
Could we see the two reunited in Manchester?