Bundesliga news

Real Madrid have paid a heavy price for failing to replace Toni Kroos following his retirement in 2024, but then doing so was always going to be a tough task. For starters, the ex-Germany international ranks as one of the finest deep-lying playmakers of the modern era.

Former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa has revealed the components of his "perfect" striker, selecting the elite traits of modern legends like Lionel Messi and Harry Kane. The veteran goalscorer also didn't shy away from self-praise, naming himself as the ultimate choice when it comes to the crucial attribute of player mentality.

Ahead of the transfer window closing, GOAL grades the USMNT-related deals completed during January.

And there we have it. The January transfer window is closed for another year, and though it was a relatively quiet month when it came to big-money deals, that does now mean we could be set up for another blockbuster summer in terms of comings and goings.

Harry Kane has been advised to “focus on his strengths” at Bayern Munich, with the prolific England international striker being reminded that it is “not his job” to track back and help out in defence. Kane has been eager to do his bit for the collective cause after seeing the runaway Bundesliga leaders surprisingly drop points across their last two domestic fixtures.

Bayern Munich have been dealt a potentially massive blow ahead of their crucial Bundesliga showdown with Hoffenheim after confirmation that talisman Harry Kane has missed training. The England captain is suffering from illness, casting serious doubt over his availability for a fixture that could prove important in the race for the German title this weekend.

The 2026 winter window closed on Monday, with Jorgen Strand Larsen's £48 million move from Wolves to Crystal Palace the biggest deal done on deadline day. Truth be told, though, it was a pretty tame end to what's been a fairly quiet month in the transfer market. Indeed, aside from Manchester City, most of Europe's top teams did next-to-no mid-season business, while there was very little movement at all in France, Germany or Spain - which wasn't that surprising, given January is traditionally a tough time to find good value for money.

Famously, the January transfer window is the more difficult of the two to operate in. It's hard to persuade other clubs to give up assets mid-season, sometimes even harder to convince players that they're better off making a move immediately rather than waiting until the following summer. But that doesn't mean deals are impossible, or that you can't get good value for your buck.

January is a notoriously bad time for buyers because nobody ever wants to sell top talent midway through the season. There are, however, exceptions to the rule. Some clubs need to raise funds to balance the books, while others can be left with not option but to unload an unhappy player who has made it clear that he wants to join a stronger side.

Union Berlin director of football Horst Heldt has revealed that the club were offered the chance to sign former Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, insisting that the club could not pursue the deal seriously, such were his financial demands. Sterling has parted company with Chelsea by mutual consent after reaching agreement to end his contract at the club early.

After all the drama provided by the Champions League in midweek, domestic action returned over the weekend, and it did not disappoint. Title races and battles to earn European spots are heating up around the continent, with there plenty of twists and turns still to come over the next three-and-a-half months.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including McKennie scoring, again, for Juventus in an important victory.

Liverpool are making one final push to sign a new defender before the transfer deadline, with Lutsharel Geertruida reportedly a top target. Geertruida played under Reds boss Arne Slot at Feyenoord and is currently halfway through a season-long loan spell at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, but talks are said to have taken place over a switch to Anfield.

Chelsea have reportedly decided against sending Aaron Anselmino back to Borussia Dortmund on loan as they did not appreciate comments made by the Bundesliga club during his initial spell in Germany. The Blues opted to recall Anselmino midway through his season-long stint at Dortmund earlier this month, much to the surprise of BVB and the player himself.

Bayern Munich and forward Harry Kane have been left fuming at the referee of the Bavarian giants' game against Hamburg, feeling aggrieved over a number of decisions that they believe did not go their way. Kane was on the scoresheet, but was unable to stop Bayern dropping points for a second consecutive Bundesliga games this season after they drew 2-2 in north Germany.

Bayern Munich dropped points in the Bundesliga for the second consecutive game as they struggled to a 2-2 draw against Hamburg in north Germany. Harry Kane and Luis Diaz had put the league leaders ahead after Fabio Vieira's first-half penalty, but the hosts battled back through the impressive Luka Vuskovic to take a point in a thrilling encounter at Volksparkstadion.