Big Bundesliga Summer Transfers That Could Still Happen

After seeing two of its biggest clubs do battle in the first ever all-German European Cup/Champions League final, the Bundesliga is currently enjoying an incredibly successful part of its history.

And, as such, the German top flight has already seen a great deal of business this summer, perhaps finding it easier to tempt elite talent than ever as a result of its recent rise.

However, there’s still a lot of this summer transfer window to go, and whether it’s inner-Bundesliga networking or players coming from abroad, Germany will be the site of a few more major deals.

Luis Suarez to Bayern Munich

From purely a football perspective, everything about a deal taking Luis Suarez to the Allianz Arena would appear to make sense. However, as we’re more than aware, the logical option isn’t always the one that comes to fruition in football.

Following his infamous biting incident against Chelsea last season (the second of his career), Suarez’s position at Liverpool is a fragile one.

Speaking to a radio station in his native Uruguay (h/t BBC Sport), the forward has told that “two or three clubs” are in the hunt for him as of this moment, adding that “I always have my phone with me in case anything happens.”

Given his relationship with the English media and the fact that Suarez will begin the next Premier League season suspended from action, a move outside England certainly looks plausible.

That being the case, Bayern Munich are a club with the finances available to make such a move happen in a transfer that would undoubtedly match Liverpool’s valuation of the player.

Given Mario Gomez’s recent move to Fiorentina, per the Guardian, there’s currently room for striking reinforcements for Der FCB, too, who are looking to improve on a treble-winning 2012-13 campaign.

To put the icing on the cake, Suarez’s agent just so happens to be the brother of Pep Guardiola, the man taking the reins at the Allianz. So while other clubs might show interest in the striker, it would seem Bayern have that one extra toe in the door.

Julian Draxler to the Premier League

Having just signed a contract extension in Gelsenkirchen, Julian Draxler may not seem like the most openly available of German starlets, but that hasn’t stopped a stream of English giants showing interest in the midfielder.

The teenager’s new deal, lasting until 2018, includes a release clause of €45 million according to ESPN, so still puts him within reach of those clubs more likely to splurge than others.

However, the same report goes on to quote Draxler via Bild regarding his fondness for the Veltins Arena outfit, saying:

"

I have read that I will definitely leave in 2014, but that's nonsense. It's by no means a certainty that I will stay at Schalke for just one more season.

I am fully focused on the upcoming season for now and 2014 is still far away. If I receive some financially interesting offers again next year, I will sit down and evaluate what's best for me.

"

So, while the attacking midfielder is certainly far from unhappy in his current surroundings, there’s that slight gap leaving the window open for a departure, no matter how unlikely it may appear.

Lars Bender to Arsenal

One offer that seemingly came out of nowhere upon its publication was the £19 million bid launched by Arsenal, who are keen on obtaining the services of Lars Bender.

The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder has been in fine form for the Bundesliga side and has established himself as one of the key components in Sami Hyypia’s side.

According to the Telegraph’s Jeremy Wilson, Leverkusen are wary of the big names they’ve already lost in Dani Carvajal and Andre Schurrle this summer, making them less inclined to sell even more star talent.

Considering their apparent probes into the market of late, the Gunners would appear to have a bit of financial backing behind them this summer, especially after forking out some substantial sums in 2012.

With Mikel Arteta an ageing talent and Jack Wilshere unreliable in terms of staying fit, it wouldn’t be absurd to think Arsene Wenger might make a second offer for the elder of the two Bender twins, who would be a major coup for the North London outfit.

Claudio Pizarro to Schalke, Hamburg

Despite figuring only sporadically under Jupp Heynckes last season, Claudio Pizarro’s class was still permitted to shine through at certain points of the 2012-13 campaign.

Even at 34 years of age, the forward managed to register 14 goals and nine assists, verifying his ongoing worth as a top-class finisher.

However, with just a year remaining on his deal at the Allianz Arena, questions now turn to whether Pizarro will remain with the club, or if they’ll opt to acquire a fee for his services now.

Earlier this year, Schalke general manager, Horst Heldt, was reported by Bild (report in German) as admiring the Peruvian’s talent, saying: "He is a great striker. If he does not extend at Bayern, one has to deal with him."

Having played third-string striker at Bayern, one can only speculate as to how Pizarro would deal with his role in Gelsenkirchen, competing alongside Teemu Pukki and Ciprian Marica as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s backup.

An alternative option for the veteran forward would be a move to Hamburg, who are supposedly in the market for a striker.

Following the departure of Heung-Min Son to Bayer Leverkusen, there’s a certain attacking void to fill for HSV, with the Hamburger Morgen Post linking Pizarro with the vacancy.

One might argue that Pizarro’s numbers would suffer without the kind of ammunition received at Bayern, but the search for regular playing time may lead the attacker to make a move elsewhere this summer, regardless.

Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich

Just as David Moyes might have thought he’d gained a step in the pursuit of his first major signing as Manchester United manager, the European champions have come in to slam a certain door right in their face.

For some weeks now, the proposed move of Barcelona’s Thiago Alcantara to Old Trafford has developed steadily, the Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler even reporting at the end of June that the youngster had agreed terms at Old Trafford.

Fast forward two weeks and Pep Guardiola looks to have stolen a march in that very pursuit. According to David Kent of the Daily Mail, the ex-Barca boss is very keen on reuniting with his former trainee, saying at a recent press conference: “It’ll be him or no-one.”

It was Guardiola who gave Thiago his first real introduction as a first-team player at the Camp Nou, something that’s bound to be a major factor in any deal.

What’s more, it’s again Guardiola’s brother, Pere, who acts as agent for the Under-21 European Championship winner, giving the German side that much more of an edge over Moyes’ side.