The return of Ruud van Nistelrooy? Five Bundesliga to Premier League moves that could happen this summer

ANALYSIS
By Greg Stobart & Wayne Veysey

As the climax of the 2010-11 season nears, clubs around Europe are gearing up for another busy and dramatic transfer window.

Some of the continent’s most coveted stars are on the radar of the Premier League’s big spenders as they seek to bolster their squads and challenge for silverware next year.

This week Goal.com UK brings you a special guide on the players from the top flights of Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France and Germany who are garnering strong interest from the Premier League.

With the assistance of Goal.com Germany‘s, Francois Ducheteau, we begin by analysing some of the top stars who could be on the move from Spain – and look at the options for where they could end up…

The Dutch winger has spoken of Arsenal as his dream club but a move to Liverpool is most likely if he is to make his way to the Premier League this summer.

The Reds tried to sign Elia in the January transfer window and have retained their interest, although he now features with Sylvain Marveaux, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing on Kenny Dalglish’s growing shopping list.

Elia, 24, has also been linked to Italian giants Juventus and is widely expected to leave Hamburg at the end of the season despite being under contract until 2014.

Premier League scouts have likened him to Young because of his pace, trickery and ability to pick a final pass. The Netherlands international is frustrated with Hamburg’s failure to compete for the Bundesliga title and is believed to be unhappy at the club.

Hamburg may need to sell players in the summer as they have failed to qualify for the Champions League and Elia, who cost €8.9 million £7.8m from FC Twente in July 2009, is one of their most valuable assets.

The view from Francois Duchateau, Germany: Elia’s first six months in Hamburg were simply  brilliant, then the coach put him on the right wing and he never showed his brilliance again – although he shined often for Holland. He is not really happy in Hamburg and was also injured quite often. A transfer seems to be very realistic, because he has hoped to reach the Champions League for years and failed every time. Hamburg need to find some money at the end of the season and Elia is one of the few players at the club who could bring in some millions.

“England has been an issue for a few years now, but I cannot make a decision yet,” he said in March. “Of course the Premier League is attractive.”

The German has powered into Europe’s striking elite this season after accruing a goals haul to die for at Bayern Munich.

It was enough to make the Premier League sit up and take notice, with Liverpool and Chelsea making monster offers for the 25-year-old in January. It has been reported that the Stamford Bridge club had a £35.6m offer rejected late on in the window.

On goals alone, it is easy to see why. Gomez led this season’s Bundesliga scoring charts with 27 goals, five more than the runner-up Papiss Demba Cisse, and has scored an incredible 38 goals in 44 matches in all competitions.

Gomez has said he is happy at Bayern but the player is bound to attract further interest this summer, with Manchester City one possible buyer should Carlos Tevez leave the club as expected.

Francois Duchateau: He was pretty close to signing for Liverpool last year, but a transfer failed at the last moment. Last season Gomez, who cost €35 million, was really bad, had no confidence and missed all his chances. That he is first choice currently at Bayern is mainly because of injuries to all the other strikers at the club, but he has found his self esteem back and is currently the best striker in the Bundesliga.

The second-highest goalscorer in World Cup history needs no introduction to English clubs who are looking for a killer touch in front of goal.

Klose is out of contract at the end of the season and his representatives have held talks with clubs including Tottenham and Everton about the possibility of moving to England. Klose wants in excess of £100,000-a-week in wages and it is unlikely either side will follow through with their interest if he does not lower his salary demands.

The 32-year-old has scored 61 goals in 107 appearances for Germany but has never been able to produce that kind of form at Bayern Munich, where he has struggled for regular games.

But he has proved throughout his career that he still has the knack of finding himself in the right spot in the penalty area and is a clinical finisher with both feet and his head.

The latest speculation in Germany is that he may yet sign a new contract with Bayern and he has been linked with a number of the Munich-based club’s Bundesliga rivals.

Francois Duchateau: Klose is linked to nearly every club in the world right now. He has never really shown his Germany form at Bayern, especially in the last few months during an injury-hit spell, but with the national team he shows his qualities, and also that he is still dynamic, despite his age.

The Germany international has been one of the main defenders on Arsenal‘s radar over the last 12 months and has previously been watched by Manchester United and Chelsea.

Tall and commanding at the back, Mertesacker may be seen as the answer to Arsenal’s frailty against high balls and at set-pieces – and at £10m would come at half the cost of Bolton’s Gary Cahill.

The 26-year-old was reluctant to leave Bremen last summer when clubs showed an interest after the World Cup, but he now feels ready to move to the Premier League after a disappointing season in the Bundesliga.

Mertesacker has one year remaining on his contract and while Bremen are not under financial pressure to sell the former Hannover 96 man, they may be ready to cash in to avoid the risk of him leaving on a free transfer next season.

Francois Duchateau: Mertesacker has had one of his worst seasons, but Bremen generally have been poor. The back line has been a problem. The German international was at fault for quite a few big blunders. Generally, there isn’t really any doubt on his qualities. You can see that during his displays for Germany, where he has been much more reliable than for his club.

The legendary striker is out of contract at the end of the season and has declared his interest in a return to the Premier League on a free transfer.

Blackburn and Sunderland have been linked with the Dutchman but Tottenham seems a more likely destination after Spurs boss Harry Redknapp tried to sign the former Manchester United star before he joined Hamburg in January 2010.

Spurs are exploring a number of options as they look to strengthen their strikeforce and Van Nistelrooy still has his customary eye for goal in the penalty area.

“Spain would be great, but in the Premier League I have many good contacts,” he said this week.

The Netherlands international, 34, wanted to leave Hamburg during the January transfer window and return to Real Madrid, the club he left United to join in 2006.

Hamburg blocked his departure but he has made it clear he will sign for a new club on a free transfer after being restricted to just 19 league outings this term due to injury, scoring seven goals.

Francois Duchateau: Van Nistelrooy had some injury problems this season and caused a storm around the club by making his wish to join Real Madrid public. Hamburg’s former manager Veh didn’t want to start him after this, but new coach Oenning picked him and he’s netted seven goals since.