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The shortest winter hiatus in Bundesliga history is about to come to an end as German football is set to get back underway in the upcoming weekend.
There have been many great performers in the first half of the season but as the so-called Bundesliga Rückrunde resumes, the players will once again be under the microscope.
In this article, we will talk about five players who can make a major impact and are worth looking out for the second half of this Bundesliga season:
#5 Leon Goretzka (FC Schalke 04)
The player who has caught the most attention in the German transfer market so far, Leon Goretzka might be on the verge of moving to FC Bayern at the end of this season, according to many German news outlets.
That being said, however, the midfielder still remains a key part of the Schalke squad, who have impressed under new coach Domenico Tedesco this season.
Currently sitting second in the Bundesliga table, the Royal Blues would definitely want to continue their remarkable form in the Ruckrunde and Leon Goretzka's presence in the team will still be valuable for the Ruhr Giants.
It will be interesting to see how he performs throughout the rest of the season, and whether he eventually agrees to a move to Bayern.
#4 Abdou Diallo (FSV Mainz 05)
If you are an avid Bundesliga fan, then this name would be fairly familiar to by now. But either way, Abdou Diallo is a name which might be on the lips of every Arsenal fan next season as Sven Mislintat, the latest scouting recruit for the Gunners, strongly recommends the Mainz defender.
And we couldn't agree with him more!
Abdou Diallo has been excellent this season, to say the least.
Diallo had a kicker average rating of 3, which puts him in the top 15 outfield player so far this season! The French recruit of FSV Mainz last summer has helped the club stay somewhat afloat in the Bundesliga table and has also earned himself a place in Abel Meszaros' stunning third team of Bundesliga TOTS for the Hinrunde.
As Mainz prepare themselves for another relegation scrap this season, Diallo's presence in the defensive backline will become even more important.
If he can keep up his good form until the end of this season, then a move to the Premier League is almost inevitable for the 21-year-old. He is definitely someone worth looking forward to, in the Bundesliga Rückrunde, even more so for the Arsenal fans.
#3 Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bayer Leverkusen have made quite a strong impression in the Bundesliga this season.
The Rhineland giants, who were involved in a relegation scrap last season have once again redeemed themselves this campaign and are currently fourth in the Bundesliga table.
One of the main reasons behind their impressive form is the remarkable performances of their younger players.
While Jonathan Tah has managed to keep things in tip-top shape at the back, the attacking duo of Leon Bailey and Julian Brandt stand among the list of top attackers in the Bundesliga this season.
Furthermore, Kai Havertz has also made a huge impression this season, often putting up consistent performances in the centre of the park.
However, it's definitely Leon Bailey who has caught the most attention this season. Following a difficult start to his Bundesliga at the backend of last season, the Jamaican has come out all guns blazing, scoring six goals and providing four assists.
All of these aforementioned youngsters have the potential to emerge as huge talents in the coming years and therefore, it will be interesting to see if they can help Leverkusen challenge the top three in the Rückrunde.
#2 Philipp Max (FC Augsburg)
By far the most impressive Bundesliga defender this season, Philipp Max is enjoying an incredible breakout season so far, which has alerted the likes of Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
The Augsburg fullback currently leads the charts for most assists with a stunning tally of ten assists. He has also made the most number of crosses as well as being far more effective on set pieces compared to last season, all of which are ideal traits for a Premier League full-back.
Tottenham Hotspur, in particular, could be keen on monitoring the performances of the 24-year-old following the rumours of Danny Rose potentially leaving the club in January.
Max, himself, will be keen to keep up his consistency throughout the season, which could force Germany national team coach Joachim Loew to consider him for the upcoming World Cup as a part of the defending champions' side later this year.
#1 Jann-Fiete Arp (Hamburger SV)
Last but not the least, it's HSV youngster Jann-Fiete Arp, who has been making shockwaves around the city of Hamburg with his stunning performances in the youth leagues as well as the first team of HSV.
Widely regarded as one of the best young talents in European football, Jann-Fiete Arp has already made a few Bundesliga appearances for a struggling Hamburg team desperate to score goals this season.
Having already become the first Millenial to appear in the Bundesliga earlier this season, the current 18-year-old also became HSV's youngest ever-goal scorer.
The Hamburg forward models his game on English striker Harry Kane and is hugely linked with moves to Chelsea and Tottenham.
With Hamburg especially lacking in the attacking department this season, this could be a vital Rückrunde for Arp, who will be keen to make a bigger impact in the German top flight during the second of the campaign.
