Manchester United Transfer: Top 10 Realistic Bundesliga Targets

If Manchester United cannot produce a new batch of fledglings, Sir Alex Ferguson must venture into the Bundesliga. 

It makes no sense to sign a young English footballer at a premium when you can get a better youngster from the Bundesliga at a cheaper price. 

This article will list 10 realistic Bundesliga targets that Manchester United must buy. 

Before you suggest any Borussia Dortmund players, none of their starters would leave arguably the best young squad in Europe.  

10. Lars Bender, Defensive Midfielder, Bayer Leverkusen, Age: 22

Lars Bender would be a perfect fit in the Premier League. 

He is someone who loves tackling and has won back possession 164 times in 24 games.

Technically he's good enough to make more incisive passes, but he generally tends to err on the side of caution. 

9. Martin Harnik, Right Attacking Midfielder, Stuttgart, Age: 24

Martin Harnik is one of the most efficient footballers in the Bundesliga.

His 14 goals have come from 45 shots, whilst Nani has scored six goals from 56 shots. 

Keep in mind Harnik starts out in the large majority of his games, yet has found a way to score goals. 

8. Philipp Bargfrede, Defensive Midfielder, Werder Bremen, Age: 23

Former Manchester United player Paul Ince once said: "I love tackling, love it. It’s better than sex."

That quote sums up Philipp Bargfrede in a nut-shell. 

He averages 4.7 tackles per game, which ranks as the third best in the Bundesliga. 

7. Aleksandar Ignjovski, Utility Player, Werder Bremen, Age: 21

Aleksandar Ignjovski is a Javier Zanetti clone. 

Ignjovski is a tough tackler, good reader of the game, disciplined and can glide past players. 

Whether it's left-back, defensive midfielder or even right-back, Ignjovski has played well enough to catch my eye. 

Potentially he'd be Manchester United's answer to Pablo Zabaleta. 

6. Gökhan Töre, Right Winger, Hamburg, Age: 20

Whoever made the decision at Chelsea to cut Gökhan Töre needs to be fired on the spot. 

What a terrible decision that turned out to be. 

Töre averages the most completed dribbles in Europe and is easily one of the most dangerous players in the world. 

He does have a tendency to run down a blind alley and needs to improve his shooting. He hasn't scored a goal from 17 shots and counting.  

It's a shame that his purple patch, five assists in his last nine games, was cut short due to a knee injury. 

Brazil used to throw Denílson on as a sub simply because he could create something out of nothing. 

Töre could be used in a similar role for Manchester United. 

I hope Chelsea swallow their pride and buy back Töre because they needed someone like him this season. 

5. André Schürrle, Left Attacking Midfielder, Bayer Leverkusen, Age: 21

It was disappointing someone of André Schürrle's quality didn't look like he cared when he came on against Barcelona. 

Yes, Bayer Leverkusen were getting slaughtered, but he should have been flying into tackles and attempting to win the game by himself. 

It's rare to have a footballer like Schürrle, who can beat a team with his dribbling and win back the ball with his tackling. 

4. Patrick Herrmann, Right Winger, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Age: 21

Excluding experience, the only difference separating Nani and Patrick Herrmann, is hype. 

Unless you watch the Bundesliga, the large majority of people do not know who Herrmann is, let alone grasp the possibility that he could become a world-class player. 

Herrmann is four years younger than Nani, will demand lower wages and will produce similar performances. 

3. Christian Fuchs, Left-Back, Schalke, Age: 25

I have never watched Ezekiel Fryers, but I can safely assume that he's not better than Christian Fuchs right now. 

In fact, considering how awful Patrice Evra has been, Fryers probably could do a better job at left-back. 

Fuchs is an easy choice because he's so hyperactive that you can't help but notice him. He has pace, he can shoot, he can cross, he can tackle and he's a set piece specialist.  

Essentially, he's a more athletic version of Leighton Baines. 

That being said, Fuchs is liable to lapses in concentration, specifically getting caught out of position. 

Talking about Fryers, if you watch him regularly, please make a comment about him. 

2. Julian Draxler, Left Attacking Midfielder, Schalke, Age: 18

Mario Götze made the quick transition from overhyped wunderkind to world-class footballer. 

Now it's Julian Draxler's turn. 

Draxler quit high school with the aspiration to become a full-time footballer and he's vindicating his brave decision. 

He has the ability and the mentality to become a Manchester United player. 

1. Roberto Firmino, Attacking Midfielder, Hoffenheim, Age: 20

Roberto Firmino has world-class potential.  

The fact that no one has bothered to produce an updated skills compilation video of Firmino shows how underrated he is. 

I've witnessed some Neymar-esque moves from the Hoffenheim midfielder.

He's the reason why Gylfi Sigurðsson, who has been class for Swansea City, couldn't get a game for Hoffenheim.   

Firmino playing for Hoffenheim is like Ronaldinho during his Paris Saint-Germain days. 

Hopefully Firmino's career pans out like Ronaldinho rather than Djalminha. 

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