Given Erling Haaland’s goalscoring record for Borussia Dortmund, the prospect of him leading the line for Manchester City is terrifying – but might he become the next Bundesliga star to struggle in the Premier League?
Haaland is still only 21 and has scored 82 goals in 86 appearances for Dortmund, so all logic suggests that he’d tear it up at City given the amount of chances Pep Guardiola’s side serve up.
Yet search the Norwegian’s name on social media and you’ll likely find doubters talking about the ‘Bundesliga tax’ – the idea that players that thrived in Germany don’t reach the same standards in England.
The likes of Son Heung-min, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan all provide a strong counter-argument – not to mention Thiago Alcantara, who has emphatically put his slow start behind him – but there are plenty of examples of Bundesliga signings that have failed to deliver.
Here are nine standout Bundesliga players that have – so far – struggled to hit the same heights in the Premier League.
Jadon Sancho
We’re sure that plenty will argue against Sancho’s inclusion here.
Yes, the attacker has looked much improved since his slow start to the campaign. Yes, proven winners like Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane haven’t been able to sort the mess out at this Manchester United, so what would you expect from a 21-year-old in a new league?
Those are fair points, and we’re certainly not writing Sancho off. Yet the fact remains that his debut season at Old Trafford has been anything but successful. He has fewer Premier League goals and assists than Leeds United’s Dan James in 2021-22 and was omitted from Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
This season Sancho averages a goal or assist in the Premier League every 317 minutes. Last season he averaged a goal or assist every 108 minutes for Dortmund in the Bundesliga. That’s some drop-off.
Still, every chance that Erik ten Hag gets him firing again next season – and he’s not…
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