Young Players to watch out for in the Bundesliga 2011-12 season (Part 5)
Julian Draxler
Age: 17
Club: Schalke 04
Julian Draxler is another exciting youngster coming out of the Schalke youth system. The player had a breakthrough season last term and was a prominent part of the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Royal-95-c40387 Blues team that reached the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League and eventually lost to Manchester United.
The midfielder took huge strides in development last year as he broke through in to the first-team and cemented his place in the starting line-up. He was one of the very few players who also impressed in the Bundesliga and garnered applause for his impressive performances.
Draxler made 24 appearances for Die Knappen in the previous campaign and scored three goals in the process. He became Schalke’s youngest ever player to play in the German League at the age of 17. The midfielder, along with Joel Matip, is touted to be the next big thing coming out of the Schalke Academy and is tipped to become a regular in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ralf-c30492 Rangnick’s side in the current campaign.
The German Under-21 international won the prestigious Fritz-Walter- Medal for his stunning displays last year and won his first piece of silverware also in the form of the German Cup as Schalke downed MSV Duisburg in the final.
Schalke have a host of young players at their disposal which include the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Poland-c2983 next year.
Mehmet Ekici
Age: 21
Club: Werder Bremen
The Turkish midfielder was a revelation for FC Nuremberg in their breakthrough campaign last season. The player’s performances for vital in the last campaign as the club ended the season in sixth place with 47 points, getting 13 wins out of 34 games played in the Bundesliga.
The Turkish international completed his five million pound move from Bayern Munich to Werder Bremen in this summer’s transfer window. The player spent the last full season on-loan with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/1-FC-Nuremberg-c38162 and impressed heavily with his performances. He scored a total of four goals in the 36 appearances he made for Die Legende and was one of the most promising talents last year.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder successfully built a partnership with former Nuremberg midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who left for Borussia Dortmund in this summer’s transfer window. The duo was influential in the club’s sensational sixth place run at the end of the year.
Bremen have not been that busy this summer in acquiring players and Ekici is their most expensive signing this year. Die Werderaner will be hoping that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mehmet-Ekici-c25163 will capitalize on his impressive run last year and will be able to make an instant impact to help guide the side to a good finish at the end of the season.
Mehmet Ekici has also made three international appearances for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Germany-c2904.
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