Bundesliga Players to Watch During the 2020/2021 Season
Remember the heady days of May when the Bundesliga became the first major football league to return?
Everyone became a German football expert overnight, with the likes of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Jadon Sancho elevating their stardom to even greater heights around the world.
Then, every other league got going again and the poor old BuLi got thrown onto the scrapheap.
Here at 90min, we are firm believers that the Bundesliga is for life, not just for Christmas. If you feel the same, enjoy our list of eight relatively unknown players who could set Germany on fire this season.
1. Joshua Zirkzee - Bayern Munich
Look, we're not expecting 19-year-old Joshua Zirkzee to displace Robert Lewandowski in the starting XI or anything.
However, after several very decent cameos last season, expect the clinical Dutch striker to play a more pronounced role this time out.
Zirkzee managed four Bundesliga goals in just nine appearances last season and looks like a real prospect. Strong, quick and deadly in front of goal - the archetypal complete forward.
2. Hee-chan Hwang - RB Leipzig
After a very impressive season for Red Bull Salzburg, Hee-chan Hwang has been chosen as the man to fill the considerable void left by Timo Werner's departure from RB Leipzig.
The South Korean international racked up 23 goal involvements from 27 games in Austria - only slightly less than Sadio Mané managed during his time at the club.
Blessed with an irresistible mix of power and lethal finishing, Hwang has all the attributes required to make a top Bundesliga striker.
3. Florian Wirtz - Bayer Leverkusen
One of the principal benefactors from the coronavirus shutdown, Florian Wirtz would not have even been on the pitch against Bayern Munich in June if the season has played out as intended.
Lucky he was though, as in the 89th minute of that particular game he bent a shot past Manuel Neuer to become the youngest scorer in Bundesliga history.
It may have only been a consolation in a 4-2 defeat, but the strike has got tongues wagging about Wirtz, who should be in line for more game time this season.
4. Deyovaisio Zeefuik - Hertha BSC
Hertha BSC's financial backer Lars Windhorst has big plans for the club, who have made some impressive signings of late.
The deal that brought Groningen right-back Deyovaisio Zeefuik to the Olympiastadion flew somewhat under the radar in comparison, but it could prove to be one of their shrewdest purchases yet.
Blessed with explosive pace and a great delivery, the Netherlands Under-21 international also loves a big tackle. He should fit in well in the capital.
5. Christian Günter - Freiburg
A quick glance at his statistical output last season makes it difficult to believe that more top European teams have not been interested in signing Freiburg skipper Christian Günter.
His 119 shot creating actions were the most of any Bundesliga defender, other than Joshua Kimmich who spent most of the campaign in midfield anyway.
Gunter also racked up the 13th most progressive yards in the league and registered eight assists. At 27, he is entering his peak years and should once again set the league on fire next season.
6. Christoph Baumgartner - Hoffenheim
Only a handful of Bundesliga midfielders bettered Christoph Baumgartner's goal tally of seven last season.
That's pretty impressive, considering the Austrian is just 21 years old. The youngster also racked up six assists in what was a breakout 2019/2020 campaign.
Capable of unlocking the most stubborn defences despite his tender years, Baumgartner is one to keep your eye on over the next few seasons.
7. Stefan Posch - Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim's defensive record wasn't exactly brilliant last season, but it would have been a hell of a lot worse if not for Stefan Posch.
The lanky Austrian was an immovable object at the heart of the 1899 defence, making no less than 82 blocks.
He also racked up a remarkable 124 combined tackles and interceptions - the 10th highest in the Bundesliga. Going into the new campaign, Kosch will be one of the most feared non-elite defenders in Germany.
8. Nadiem Amiri - Bayer Leverkusen
With the talismanic Kai Havertz gone, Peter Bosz faces an uphill task to improve on Bayer Leverkusen's fifth placed finish this time around.
If they are to have a fruitful season. Bosz will need exciting attacking midfielder Nadiem Amiri to pick up some of the creative and goalscoring slack.
Amiri performed well last season - registering the eighth highest shot creating actions per 90 minutes in the league - and with Havertz gone, he has become his side's starting advanced midfielder.