We look at a selection of players from the Bundesliga who could join the English top-flight this winter.
Away from the box-office speculation, skysports.com offers five Bundesliga players who could move to the Premier League
The likes of Bundesliga stars Bastian Schweinsteiger and Edin Dzeko may be persistently linked with headline moves to the Premier League, but ahead of the winter window there are other names to remember.
With advice from those in the know in Germany,
skysports.com has taken a look at the rumour mill to select five lesser-known players who could be potential targets for clubs in England's top flight.
So take a look at the below line-up because your club could be tracking one of these men in a bid to strengthen their respective squad in the winter market.
Benedikt Howedes
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reported to be tracking the Schalke centre-back to cover suggestions that Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny are not of a Premier League standard.
Howedes seems to meet all the necessary criteria for a Gunners signing, 22-years-old, versatile, 6ft 2in, and aggressive, to suggest he has the attributes to prove a success at Emirates Stadium.
The former Germany Under 21 international, who can play at full-back or in defensive midfield, is also right-footed, which would complement the left foot of potential long-term Arsenal partner Thomas Vermaelen.
Schalke do not want to sell and the defender is under contract until 2014, but the club's struggles in the Bundesliga this season could see players looking elsewhere.
Mats Hummels
Bayern Munich have admitted that they made a big mistake in selling the 21-year-old to Borussia Dortmund in 2009 and he has since been linked with a number of Europe's top clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea.
Centre-back Hummels has been excellent in the Bundesliga this season and is one of the reasons behind Dortmund sitting top of the table at the winter break.
Inter Milan are also thought to be tracking the new Germany international, but he would seem to be best suited to the English style.
Dortmund are not keen to sell and are thought to value Hummels, who is under contract until the summer of 2013, at £16.9million, which is a lot of money, but not out of reach for the Premier League rich-boys.
Papiss Demba Cisse
Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cisse is rated at £10million after grabbing 13 goals to sit as the second top scorer in the Bundesliga this season.
The Senegal international is thought to want to play UEFA Champions League football and that leaves England's usual suspects in a strong position for his signature.
But Fulham have also been credited with an interest in Cisse, while Birmingham could consider a bid to solve their goalscoring problems.
Reports have suggested the 25-year-old is certain to move in the summer of
2011 at the latest and so clubs could try and force a move in January.
Neven Subotic
Centre-back Subotic has been another factor behind Borussia Dortmund's successful first half of the season and as a result he has been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool.
Chelsea are thought to be especially keen, owing to the defending Premier League champions' lack of squad depth.
Carlo Ancelotti is therefore reported to be watching Subotic after the Serbian's emergence as one of Europe's most promising defenders, but that does add a high price tag.
Liverpool have seen their hopes of signing the 22-year-old quashed after he questioned the logic of leaving a club that is leading the Bundesliga to join an inconsistent Premier League side.
Ilkay Gundogan
Manchester United are rumoured to be interested in Nurnberg playmaker Gundogan after missing out on Mesut Ozil in the summer.
Germany Under 21 international Gundogan possesses an eye for goal after scoring four times in the Bundesliga so far this season and he holds a host of tricks in and around the penalty area.
The 20-year-old has confessed that he would enjoy a move to Old Trafford during his career and the news could be welcomed by Sir Alex Ferguson and his team of scouts.
It has been reported that Nurnberg would be willing to listen to offers in the region of £8.5million for Gundogan and United could decide that is a worthwhile piece of business.
