Five players who could leave the Bundesliga in summer 2022

A number of big names could depart Germany in the ongoing transfer window.

The 2021-22 season saw Bayern Munich as the Bundesliga champions for a 10th successive season. The rest of the top four, the crucial UEFA Champions League sports, were filled by Borussia Dortmund, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and RB Leipzig.

Robert Lewandowski lead the goal-scoring charts with an incredible 35 goals, while Thomas Muller’s 15 assists were bettered by no one. A lot of players, new and old, made their mark last campaign, with a host of the stars expected to follow Erling Haaland and move to newer pastures this summer.

Here are five players who can exit the Bundesliga to clubs across Europe in this transfer window.

5. Vincenzo Grifo (SC Freiburg)

Vincenzo Grifo is a well-rounded player with a varied set of skills. One area where he excels is set-pieces. SC Freiburg led the Bundesliga with 24 goals scored from set-pieces. Grifo is directly involved in half of them (12), with five assists, five penalties and two direct free-kicks. His seven-goal involvements from dead-ball situations without the penalties is also a league-high number. The 29-year-old scored nine goals last season, equalling his personal best from 2020-21.

A lot of teams across Europe struggle to make the most of set-pieces and Grifo could be the perfect player to unlock those avenues. He can play anywhere in the midfield and is tactically astute, making him perfect for a team that plays route-one football as well as for one that controls possession and dictates play. At the age of 29, the Italian is at the peak of his powers and will be keen to try his luck at top of the football chain.

4. Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was a standout performer for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021-22. He conceded just 45 goals from shots worth an ‘expected goals on target’ total of 51.1. He led the Bundesliga rankings for goals prevented (6.1). The German international also registered a league-high 66.4% save percentage from shots inside the box.

Trapp’s best performance of the season came in the 2-1 away win against Bayern Munich in October. The 31-year-old made 10 saves in the match, the joint-most saves by a goalkeeper on a winning team in the season and the joint-most saves that he’s ever made in a German top-flight game.

Though he’s on the wrong side of 30, the experienced German international will be a fantastic acquisition for a team that’s looking for a ‘keeper of the highest order. With goalkeepers having a longer playing career than others, signing him up on a long-term contract will solve any team’s goalkeeping issues for the near future.

3. David Raum (Hoffenheim)

Having signed from Greuther Furth last summer, 2021-22 was a breakthrough season for left-back David Raum in the Bundesliga. Though it was his season in the top flight, he played like a league veteran.

The 24-year-old led the Bundesliga charts for expected assists, with his total of 13.9 better than even Thomas Müller’s 11.7 xA. He averaged 6.7 open play crosses per 90 minutes last season, which is better only by Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic (7.8). His 11 assists were the most by a defender in Germany and equalled Hoffenheim’s club record for the most in a single season. Drawing level with Roberto Firmino (2013-14).

Raum is now a full German international and has quickly cemented himself as of the finest full-backs in Europe. He’ll fit in perfectly in any team that uses its full-backs or wing-backs for width and Hoffenheim have braced themselves for bids from Europe’s biggest clubs.

2. Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich)

After a disappointing spelling at West Bromwich Albion. Serge Gnabry moved to Germany and has done well on the promise he showed during his youth career. His exploits at Werder Bremen saw Bayern Munich recruit him and he has lived up to every hype that the move had generated.

Over the year, however, he has fallen down the pecking order. A small loss in form coupled with Leroy Sane’s arrival has seen his importance in the team reduce over time. With one year left on his contract, he has been unwilling to sign an extension and is instead looking for a team that needs his services.

A return to England has been mooted, while Paris Saint-Germain and a few Spanish clubs are also supposedly keeping an eye on his situation. With Bayern adding another winger in Sadio Mane to their squad this summer. It’s looking increasingly likely that Gnarby’s time in Germany has come to an end.

1. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Enough has been written about Robert Lewandowski’s exploits in the Bundesliga over the last decade. Since his first top-flight game in Germany, he has established himself as one of the league’s best players in spells across Borussia Dortmund and then Bayern Munich. He has won multiple golden boots, league and cup titles, and more.

The 35-year-old seemingly has had enough of dominating the Bundesliga as he’s put in a transfer request to be allowed to leave the German champions and join Barcelona. With every passing day, it’s looking increasingly likely that Bayern will grant his wishes and sell their star striker in this transfer window.

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