Top five players RB Leipzig should target in summer 2023

With Gvardiol keen on transfer and Nkunku joining Chelsea, Leipzig will need to make reinforcements to fill the void left.

RB Leipzig rose to great heights under Julian Naglesmann in the past few seasons. They almost managed to win Bundesliga in 2020-21 campaign but sadly the German super giants outdid them in the end. With Naglesmann gone, the chances of a title win are looking a bit slim but not impossible given their squad and team consistency.

Here are the top five players RB Leipzig should target in the summer transfer window of 2023:

5. Jesper Lindstrom (Attacking Midfielder) - Eintracht Frankfurt

RB Leipzig will offer Eintracht Frankfurt more than €25m to sign attacking midfielder Jesper Lindstrom. That’s according to transfer expert and Caught Offside columnist Christian Falk, who claims the Germans are in direct competition with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to sign Frankfurt’s talented Danish playmaker.

Having seen their first bid of €25m almost immediately knocked back, according to Falk, Marco Rose’s side are preparing an improved offer – one they hope their domestic rivals will accept. During his first two years with Frankfurt, Lindstrom, who has three years left on his deal, has scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists in 77 games in all competitions.

4. Rafa Marin (Defender)– Real Madrid Castilla

The Spanish defender currently plays for R. Madrid Castilla and is 21 years old have been currently on the radar of the teams in Europe. The Spanish defender is highly rated in the European football circuit and has generated interest from the likes of Chelsea and RB Leipzig. While the 20-year-old is yet to secure his first-team debut, his performances for Real Madrid Castilla have earned him admirers at multiple clubs.

The Spaniard is ready to sign a new deal with Los Blancos and await his chance with the first team. Los Blancos are yet to offer him a new contract, with his current contract running out in the summer of 2024.

Alaba, Militao and Nacho are enough cover for his position in the first team and the academy player is aware of that. That is why he is looking for a move away. All of this comes as RB Leipzig are looking for a new center-back.

The Germans want a replacement for Josko Gvardiol who could leave at the end of the season. Several formulas are being thought of for the signing, but a loan deal with an option to buy is looking the most likely. However, Real Madrid will not let the player leave easily as it is not the first time a team have tried to sign him. It all depends on whether Real Madrid signs a center-back for next year or whether players from the academy will occupy that role.

3. Elye Wahi (Forward) – Montepelliar

He is one of the bright future Players playing in Ligue 1, the French player is a pressing forward and currently is the highest scorer for Montpellier. The 23 years old, has also been used as a shadow striker. Elye Wahi's current transfer value is between €9.8M and €16.3M and he has come up in the ranks from the academy getting first team call up from Montfermeil U17 to Montpellier in 2018. He could be the one to replace Nkunku, the league's highest goal scorer who has now joined Chelsea.

The young Frenchman has netted 17 goals and contributed five assists in just 30 Ligue 1 appearances this season – a form that has attracted interest from Arsenal despite the fact that Folarin Balogun remains a Gunners player. Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund have also expressed interest in the past, according to reports. Arsenal saw their offer turned down during the winter transfer window as the club admitted that Wahi would be worth at least €30m given his previous stellar season. Leipzig could be the new home for the French star which will give him the exact dynamics for flourishing in coming seasons.

2. Dani Ceballos (Midfielder) – Real Madrid

Dani Ceballos' current contract ended in the summer, but there are reports in the Spanish media that the midfielder has been offered a three-year renewal with the same salary by Los Blancos. The player is currently weighing his options but remains likely to continue at Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish player is a deep-lying playmaker and he has also been used as a box-to-box midfielder. Dani Ceballos's current transfer value is between €4.4M and €7.3M. His last transfer was from Real Madrid to Arsenal in 2019 which was a loan move.

With Leipzig’s midfield linked away from the team, they will be looking to recruit some new faces so that they are prepared for the new campaign which involved DFB Pokal and Champions League apart from Bundesliga. Ceballos is a perfect example of an ideal midfielder as seen during his time at Arsenal and has also managed 04 assists in the previous season. He has mostly been used as a substitute but in order to make it into a very competitive national team, he will need to be a part of the first team which Leipzig has an available vacant position.

1. Folarin Balogun (Forward) - Arsenal

Folarin Balogun (ENG) is a mobile striker and currently returned to Arsenal after playing on loan at Reims. The 21 years striker has also been used as a poacher and his current transfer value is between €16.8M and €27.9M. Making his first senior appearance in 2020, Balogun has had loan spells at Middlesbrough and Reims, where he is currently enjoying a breakout season.

With 21 goals in 34 appearances, Balogun only came behind Lacazette, Jonathan David and Kylian Mbappe in the Ligue 1 golden boot standings which is why it makes sense that the transfer rumor mill is going into overdrive around him. He is willing to move away from Arsenal in order to continue his form and making finding a place in the regular playing XI, Leipzig are known to develop players at a very well-structured pace. His value and age are just about the right investment to make for the German side with the new season coming.