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Salzburg may be about to lose both Rasmus Kristensen, Karim Adeyemi and Brenden Aaronson in the very same summer but, if this star-studded starting XI proves anything, it’s that the perennial Austrian champions are masters of making do and mending.
Peter Gulacsi – RB Leipzig
The one-time Tranmere Rovers and Hereford United loanee kicked off a trend when he swapped Salzburg for Leipzig back in 2015, paving the way for the likes of Dayot Upamecano, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita to do the same.
RB Leipzig were a fourth-tier side when Gulacsi joined all those years ago. It felt fitting, then, that it was he who captained the club to their first ever major trophy in May following the DFB Pokal final triumph over Freiburg.
Rasmus Kristensen – Red Bull Salzburg
Boasting a combined 18 goals and assists during the 2021/22 campaign, Kristensen would give even Trent Alexander-Arnold a run for his money. The rampaging right-back is one of the most productive ‘defenders’ in European football and should become an immediate fans’ favourite at Elland Road.
According to The Athletic, Leeds have fought off competition from Borussia Dortmund while agreeing a fee to make Kristensen their second Austrian-based import of the summer.
Duje Caleta-Car – Marseille
The Croatian colossus famously missed out on a dream move to Liverpool back in January 2021 but he has not let that disappointment hold him back, playing a key role as Marseille qualified for the Champions League under Jorge Sampaoli last term.
Caleta-Car won seven trophies in just four years at the Red Bull Arena.
Dayot Upamecano – Bayern Munich
One half of the Bundesliga’s most reliable backline in 2020/21, Upemacano followed Julian Nagelsmann to Munich last summer.
The France international is yet to emulate the impact former team-mate Ibrahima Konate has made in his new surroundings. But Upamecano should have a place at the heart of Bayern’s backline for a decade to come.
Martin Hinteregger – Eintracht Frankfurt
Forced to fill in out wide due to the lack of top-quality left-backs passing through Salzburg’s feted finishing school, Hinteregger’s expert positional sense and terrific passing range means he can probably be relied upon to produce the goods even in an unfamiliar role.
One of Europe’s most prolific centre-halves, Hinteregger was outstanding as Eintracht Frankfurt defeated West Ham United in the Europa League semi-finals.
Brenden Aaronson – Leeds United
Arriving at Elland Road four months later than was initially planned, Leeds United fans will be hoping their new £24 million American playmaker is worth the wait.
A tally of five goals and nine assists from central midfield last term paints the picture of a man capable of both scoring and creating chances in the final third.
Likened to Kai Havertz during his time with Philadelphia Union, Aaronson should help ease the burden on an ageing, tiring Mateusz Klich.
Enock Mwepu – Brighton and Hove Albion
Such was the Zambian’s effervescent performances in the second half of the Premier League season, he keeps the likes of Dominik Szboboszlai, Kevin Kampl, Amadou Haidara and Konrad Laimer out of our XI.
The £18 million fee Brighton paid for him could be a snip. Especially if that masterful, Man of the Match performance in the 2-1 win at Arsenal is anything to go by.
Naby Keita – Liverpool
His Liverpool career has been dogged by injury and inconsistency. But, when fit and firing, Keita is a joy to watch. A dictator and a destroyer rolled into a diminutive 5ft 8ins frame, the former RB Leipzig talisman is never far away from testing the strength of the Anfield netting with one of those trademark long-range thunderbolts.
Karim Adeyemi – Borussia Dortmund
If there is any team who know how to replace a departing talisman, it’s Red Bull Salzburg. Out went Erling Haaland, in came Patson Daka. And, when Daka left for Leicester, it was Adeyemi who stepped up to the plate.
The youngest player to score a goal for the German national team since Mario Gotze a decade ago, Adeyemi earned himself a big-money move to Dortmund after marking his breakthrough season with 22 strikes in all competitions.
Sadio Mane – Liverpool
If there is a trophy Sadio Mane hasn’t won, it’s probably not worth winning. Adding an FA Cup winners’ medal to his enviable collection of silverware, Senegal’s all-time record goalscorer has undoubtedly earned himself a seat at the right hand of King Kenny in the sprawling pantheon of Liverpool greats.
Mane’s biggest challenge yet may be just around the corner, however. Bayern Munich have identified the former Southampton speedster as the man to take Robert Lewandowski’s place at the Allianz Arena.
Erling Haaland – Manchester City
You can probably count on one hand the players capable of walking straight into Pep Guardiola’s starting XI and giving Manchester City a completely new dimension. Erling Haaland, however, is one of those.
The unstoppable goal-machine ascended to superstar status at Borussia Dortmund. But only after honing his almost-intergalactic strike-rate at Salzburg.
