10 Young Bundesliga Talents Ready to Break Through in 2015
The Bundesliga's return may still be the best part of a month away, but that hasn't stopped football fans up and down the continent speculating as to how the next 12 months of German football is going to pan out.
However, aside from the usual focal points of any guesswork around the league, the best topic of conversation often comes down to who will be the next star to feature across the top division in 2015.
Fortunately for you, we've already done the legwork and before your very eyes we have today compiled a list of the top 10 young players to break through in the German Bundesliga in 2015.
Note: These ten players are in no particular order and vary in popularity and potential. This isn't a best young players list, but a list showcasing who we deem most likely to make the next step in their career in 2015.
1. Carlos Gruezo: Stuttgart
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The first player on today's list is anything but an unknown quantity within the world of European and indeed South American football.
Initially playing for Barcelona—the Ecuadorian side, rather than the famous Spanish giants—Carlos Gruezo made the move to Stuttgart in January of last year and has wasted little time making a name for himself in Germany and across Europe.
Despite only being 19, Gruezo played a large part in Ecuador's World Cup campaign in the summer and has since become an important player at the heart of Stuttgart's midfield.
The world may already know of Gruezo, but they could well be seeing the very best of him in 2015.
2. Davie Selke: Werder Bremen
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David—or "Davie," as he's commonly referred to—Selke appears on today's list as potentially the most important player with regards to how vital he is to his respective side.
Werder Bremen have often looked completely lost this season (or decade), yet whenever this young German star has been on the top of his game, he's managed to galvanise the relegation battlers with some truly exceptional performances.
One that will still live strong in most fans' memories is the display he put on against Borussia Dortmund before the winter break, in which he scored and set up another goal against the former German champions.
Selkie may only have five goals this season, according to Transfermarkt, yet this striker is only getting started. We keenly await to see what he has in store for 2015.
3. Gianluca Gaudino: Bayern Munich
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Third in our list, and the first Bayern Munich product for today, Gianluca Gaudino arrives as the next big thing from the Bavarian giants.
The midfielder is rather well known around German football as an exceptional talent in the Bayern youth sides, but despite his jump in fame this season, Gaudino has yet to break in to Pep Guardiola's squad.
Yet, as the season rumbles on and Bayern's European campaign takes a more serious turn, we should expect to see the young central midfielder play a much larger role in the domestic games.
Learn this name because it's only going to get bigger and bigger.
4. Sinan Kurt: Bayern Munich
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The second Bayern player on today's list comes in the form of Sinan Kurt, although many will still regard the winger as a product of the Borussia Monchengladbach youth setup.
Arriving in Munich this summer after making quite a name for himself in the Gladbach youth sides over the past few seasons, Kurt joins Bayern as a goalscoring inside-forward and a very strong prospect for the future.
Whether he manages to break through into Guardiola's first team or indeed makes a loan move elsewhere, Kurt is destined for big things in German football in 2015.
5. Leon Goretzka: Schalke
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To a certain extent, everyone in German football is well aware of who Schalke's young star Leon Goretzka is.
Arriving at Gelsenkirchen last summer from Bochum for a substantial fee, plenty has been made of Goretzka's potential and the possibility of him being the next Royal Blue star at Schalke.
Unfortunately, the latter half of 2014 has seen the German international miss out on any football entirely with numerous thigh strains, meaning any significant move he makes in Robert Di Matteo's squad will have to come this year.
If this starlet can get over his injury troubles, then 2015 could be a very big year for Goretzka at Schalke.
6. Niklas Sule: Hoffenheim
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Despite his tender age of just 19, Niklas Sule is in fact now in his third straight year with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.
Yet, although most fans of the club and general supporters of the league are well aware of the young talent, 2015 may finally be the year that we see this German prodigy make the next jump.
It will come as little surprise that the defender has been present throughout Hoffenheim's strong start to the season as one of the club's most consistent performers. It's only a matter of time before Sule gets picked up for bigger and better things.
7. Timo Horn: Cologne
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As the first goalkeeper on our list today, Cologne's Timo Horn arrives as potentially one of the most gifted goalkeepers in the Bundesliga at the moment.
Horn may only be 21, but the manner in which he swallows up any loose chances and balls in the box far surpasses his experience on the pitch. Add to that some outstanding shot-stopping, and you have a young goalkeeper with the whole world at his feet.
Let's just see if Cologne can keep a hold of him this summer.
8. Marc-Oliver Kempf: Freiburg
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Freiburg may have been forced to sell their star defender, Matthias Ginter, to Borussia Dortmund in the summer, but fortunately for the Black Forest side, Christian Streich already had a replacement in mind.
Enter Marc-Oliver Kempf, a 19-year-old central defender and a player who has quickly become the club's next big star.
Moving up from the youth team last season, Kempf has only just been giving the opportunity of a decent run in the first team and hasn't wasted any time confirming his long-term spot in the side. A lengthy injury aside, the central defender has been ever-present for Freiburg throughout this campaign.
Another six months like the stint we've seen of him since the start of the season and Kempf may have a whole list of potential suitors fighting for his signature come June.
9. Loris Karius: Mainz
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Mainz have had a rather inconsistent campaign so far this season but if there is one player that manager Kasper Hjulmand has been able to rely on, it has been goalkeeper Loris Karius.
At just 21 years of age, Karius has a long way to go in the Bundesliga shot-stopping fraternity, yet the young German has already proven himself at the highest level in German football.
Composed on the ball and outstanding in his reflexive saves, Karius has a long way to go in this game and looks as though he's only getting better and better.
10. Wendell: Bayer Leverkusen
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Representing Bayer Leverkusen in today's list is left-back Wendell, the Factory Squad's latest full-back sensation and possibly the next big defender in the Bundesliga.
The 21-year-old has only been at Leverkusen since last February yet has already demanded new manager Roger Schmidt's attention with first-team matters. Where Sebastian Boenisch once regarded the role of left-back as his own, the position is now up for grabs between the ageing defender and this young, pacy alternative.
Quick, skillful and as composed as you'd expect any Brazilian to be, Wendell has offered a much-needed injection of youth and pace into the Factory Squad defence this season.
