'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With FC Bayern Munich winning the Bundesliga crown for the last six seasons in a row many expected this season in the Bundesliga to be much of the same. However, with an ageing squad and a rocky start for new manager Niko Kovac, the Bavarians have left the door open for some sort of title race this season. Lucien Favre and his Dortmund troops snapped up the opportunity with both hands and have led the Bundesliga table for much of the season. With just one defeat all season, BVB show no signs of relinquishing their early lead. Despite a Bayern recovery of late, this season has all the potential to have grand slam ending. One of the reasons for this highly competitive season is the quality of talent that Bundesliga teams have managed to once again recruit to their teams. Several summer signings have added immensely to their squads and have added to quite an entertaining Bundesliga season indeed. So as we reflect at the halfway point of the season, we ask which of these new signings have had the greatest impact thus far? The following are the top 5 best signings of the Bundesliga so far.
#5 Abdou Diallo
France's U21 captain is part of an electrifying group of French youngsters flourishing in the Bundesliga. Diallo joined Dortmund this summer after a brilliant first Bundesliga season at Mainz 05. The former Monaco man has been brilliant for Dortmund so far and is ever-present in their defence alongside young superstars in their own right in Manuel Akanji and Dan-Axel Zagadou. His versatility has also been instrumental to Dortmund's success both in domestic and European competition playing the left-back role if needed. As with a lot of Dortmund young talent, it would not be long before a European powerhouse flexes its muscle for Diallo and sending on the move again.
#4 Joelinton
Hoffenheim have made an absolute habit of unearthing footballing gems. The club from a tiny German town has shot up the German professional ranks and this season found themselves in the Champions League group stage mix for the first time in the club's history. Their amazing scouting system and relationship with Brazilian football agency ROGON is a big part of this. Plucking Roberto Firmino from outside the Brazilian top flight with no national youth team experience proved to be a masterstroke. Hoffenheim signed Luiz Gustavo while in 2.Bundesliga, and the player went on to win the Champions League with Bayern and amass over 40 caps for the Brazilian national team. Next in line seems to be their new summer signing, Joelinton. The Brazilian's raw but direct running style is a major concern for opposition defences. The 22-year-old production in his first season has been very impressive scoring 8 goals and providing 7 assists in his debut season. In Julian Nagelsmann's final season with the club, he has left Hoffenheim with a potential world star.
#3 Paco Alcácer
The man on loan from FC Barcelona is next and it is definitely debatable that he should be higher on this list. His instant impact in the Bundesliga has caught many by surprise, especially those who doubted his ability based on his inability to ever break into Barcelona's star-studded starting line up. The Dortmund number 9 is their leading goal scorer and has the second most goals in the entire Bundesliga with 12 goals in just 13 Bundesliga outings. Either starting or from the bench, Alcacer has found goals that have even earned him a recall to the Spanish national team, where he scored on his return there as well. The former Valencia captain is loving life in Germany and could be well on his way to yet another league title. A sensational 30-minute hat trick in a 4-3 victory at the Westfalenstadion was probably the highlight of his season so far.
#2 Alassane Pléa
Alassane Pléa is currently on Didier Deschamps' French national team and with good reason. The centre forward is thriving in Germany, leading the line in Dieter Hecking's firey Bundesliga outfit. Pléa's top form has seen Gladbach in second place for long periods this season. Now in third, they have a real chance of making it into the Champions League places. A 3-0 hammering of current German Champions Bayern Munich was fine evidence of Gladbach's rich attacking potential. Pléa scored only once that game but has scored a total of 10 Bundesliga goals this season. Along with the exciting Thorgan Hazard and captain Lars Stindl, the trio makes up one of the most potent attacking trios in German football with only Bayern and Dortmund having better goal returns. The player credits a lot of his growth to the influence his former teammate Mario Balotelli had on him at Nice.
#1 Axel Witsel
Borussia Dortmund always seems to have talented young players, Osmane Dembele, Christian Pulisic, Jadon Sancho and many more have all captivated German fans. But the team always appeared to lack that edge, that edge to maybe take things over the line, a quality that can maybe only be developed by experience. This summer this is what Dortmund got when they captured midfield maestro Axel Witsel. The 30-year old with over 100 caps for Belgium returned to Europe after a spell in China and has galvanised this Dortmund team and is the heartbeat of this team. Both Thomas Delaney and Witsel have come in and added to the overall age of the squad and their efforts have allowed the younger players to flourish. Club captain Marco Reus can also feel he can share the responsibility with Witsel there and this has allowed for Reus to focus on his own game. Now fit, Reus recently picked up the German Footballer of the Year award as well as winning the Bundesliga player of the month three times this season. Witsel's team influence will be much needed as the team looks to complete the job and hold off German powerhouse Bayern from a 7th straight league title.
