Ranking the Top 10 Strikers in the Bundesliga After the 2014 Transfer Window
Each season, the German Bundesliga finds itself in the midst of a major reshuffle, when its clubs partake in the summer transfer window and restock their squads for the coming campaign.
This year was no different, with relegation battlers and title contenders alike forking out cash for some of the best talent in Germany and across Europe.
Of course, some of the league's best talent decided to move on to pastures new—most notably Toni Kroos and Mario Mandzukic of Bayern Munich—but in their wake, the division has seen some fine additions to its top sides.
As such, we've decided to jot down the top 10 strikers in the Bundesliga following a whole summer season of bargain buys and top, continental captures.
Note: This list is not a breakdown of the top strikers to have joined the Bundesliga this summer. Its purpose is to show where each forward in the league now stands now that the window is shut. All stats and figures quoted throughout the article have come from Transfermarkt.
10. Pierre-Michel Lasogga
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The first member of our list is young Hamburg striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga, who comes in at No. 10 as a forward with plenty of potential and possibly a great season ahead of him.
Hamburg do of course look anything like a reformed power, following an embarrassing defeat at home to Paderborn on the last matchday, but if they can get their act together then it shouldn't take long before this German striker is knocking in the goals for them.
Of course, Lasogga won't have to rely too much on the fortunes of his club. Despite watching the ever-present Bundesliga side flirt with relegation until the final day of the season last year, he was still able to pick up 13 league goals. Now, just imaigne what he could achieve in a successful side.
9. Ciro Immobile
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Next in our list, we have Bundesliga newcomer Ciro Immobile. Dortmund's new Italian striker joins the title contenders following a very fruitful time in the Serie A with Torino.
Immobile was unfortunate to have his preliminary World Cup cut short this summer, when Italy went out in the group stages alongside England, but the young striker will undoubtedly be looking forward to making up for lost silverware with his new German side.
The former Torino goalscorer managed to pick up 22 league goals in just 34 appearances last season and although he hasn't got off the mark for Dortmund as of yet, we should expect to see more of the same from this 24-year-old.
8. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
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In at eighth on our list we have Schalke's dedicated Dutch talisman: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
Although the former Real Madrid striker is undoubtedly one of the best forwards in the league, he's dropped a few places due to an injury-ridden season last year as well as the constant struggles that his side seem to be going through on a monthly basis.
Huntelaar only managed 18 league games last season yet he was still able to pick up an impressive 12 goals for his troubles. With one in one so far in this campaign, we're hopeful that we'll see the target man back among the top goalscorers in the league once again.
7. Roberto Firmino
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As if by some divine miracle, Bundesliga side Hoffenheim were once again able to cling on to superb talent Roberto Firmino despite another transfer window full of speculation and rumours.
The 22-year-old Brazilian forward is undoubtedly one of the brightest young talents in the German top division today and is already considered among the best goalscorers in the league.
Despite actually playing in midfield, he picked up an incredible 16 goals and 12 assists last season, making him one of the most well-rounded performers throughout the season. We expect even more from this emerging, if not already established, talent.
6. Josip Drmic
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Bayer Leverkusen were among some of the best clubs in the transfer window this summer, picking up some superb talent while also holding on to most of their key players.
One player who looks set to confirm that is young striker Josip Drmic who moved to the Factory Squad from FC Nurnberg following an incredible debut campaign in the Bundesliga.
The Swiss international somehow managed to score 17 league goals last year—just three off the top spot—despite playing for a Nurnberg side that always looked destined to drop out of the division. Now, we patiently wait to see what he can do at a side like Leverkusen this season.
5. Adrian Ramos
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Another Bundesliga striker who made a smart move up the league table this summer is former Hertha Berlin talisman Adrian Ramos: Dortmund's new, battle-hardened goalscorer.
The 28-year-old Colombian international has of course been well regarded as a phenomenal Bundesliga striker in his own right for quite some time, but it was last season's tally of 16 goals and eight assists for the capital side that finally forced Jurgen Klopp to splash the cash.
Dortmund may have spent a little more on the younger, cooler Immobile, but it seems as though Ramos will be the one expected to put most of the chances away in the league this season. BVB need a new goalscorer desperately, and it looks as though this forward may just be it.
4. Stefan Kiessling
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Another Leverkusen player who looks set for a nice goal return this season is regular Bundesliga top goalscorer Stefan Kiessling.
The former German international—for now—looks as though he has a whole new lease of life about him since giving up on the national team, regaining his composure and importance to a Leverkusen side that desperately need him.
Only three of this striker's 15 goals came against bottom-six sides last season, showing just how much of a big-game player Kiessling really is. If Roger Schmidt hopes to catch Dortmund or even Bayern this year, he'll need the help of this towering forward.
3. Thomas Muller
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In third place on our list we have the expected company of Bayern and German international forward Thomas Muller.
Despite only being 24 years old, Muller has amassed an incredible total of 59 goals and 61 assists in the Bundesliga for the famous Bavarian side.
Although he isn't technically a striker—perhaps more of a wandering, free-scoring inside forward—Muller was Pep Guardiola's most prolific player last season, after the now-departed Mandzukic.
The Bundesliga champions do of course now have another talisman upfront, but that won't stop Muller from being just as important to this club—a forward who continues to get better and better.
2. Marco Reus
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It is perhaps perfectly fitting to suggest that the best forward at Dortmund these days isn't in fact a striker at all.
We are of course talking about Marco Reus, the prolific left-winger who is steadily confirming his status as one of Europe's most impressive attacking midfielders, as he continues to grow under Klopp's careful guidance.
Dortmund do of course have two new strikers to choose from this season, but we wouldn't be surprised to find Reus at the top of their goalscoring chart by the end of the year.
Having picked up 16 league goals last season, the German international will be hopeful of adding to his tally and finally picking up some much-needed silverware.
1. Robert Lewandowski
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At No. 1, we have the undisputed champion of goalscoring within the German Bundesliga today.
Robert Lewandowski may have just swapped allegiances this summer, with his move from Dortmund to Bayern, but he is still well regarded among peers and critics alike as one of the best forwards to have ever played in the league.
At Dortmund, the Polish international picked up an incredible 75 league goals and 32 assists in just 133 games, giving him an impressive ratio of either scoring or creating 0.8 goals per game.
Still only 26 years old, Lewandowski joins Bayern with at least four years to go before he even thinks about reaching his peak. Here, we have a striker who could quite feasibly dominate the Bundesliga for years to come.
