The winter break brings with it a clean slate for players in Bundesliga Fantasy Manager, as well as some fresh faces to help you either double down on your in-play dominance or turn a faltering season around. Either way, bundesliga.com has got your back...

Take advantage of unlimited transfers before the season resumes!

Goalkeepers

Budget buster

Sven Ulreich (Bayern Munich, 3.2M)

With Manuel Neuer out for rest of season, Ulreich is next in line to step in as Bayern's chief custodian. The league leaders have conceded fewer goals than any other team so far (13) and, in Ulreich, you're not only likely to collect points for wins and clean sheets on a regular basis but, at just 3.2M, he'll also free up some serious funds for premium picks elsewhere.

Mid-range option

Manuel Riemann (Bochum, 8.7M)

It's admittedly risky picking a Bochum player given their league position (17th), and the fact they have conceded more goals than anybody else in the division. And yet, Riemann is the third-highest scoring goalkeeper in the game (93) thanks to being called into action so frequently. He's made more saves than any 'keeper (64) and already has five double-digit Fantasy scores this season, while only nine percent of players have cottoned on to his worth. You do the maths.

Premium pick

Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg, 11.2M)

The Belgian is a guaranteed starter at an ever-improving Wolfsburg side that began motoring up the table before the break and he has five clean sheets to his name already this term. Three of those shutouts came in Casteels' last four outings prior to the Bundesliga being put on pause - they won all four - and the Wolves haven't lost a competitive game since Matchday 7 back in September.

Defenders

Budget buster

Mitchell Weiser (Werder Bremen, 5M)

Where have you been this season if you haven't had Weiser in your team? One of those very handy OOP players, the Bremen man is a guaranteed starter and in fact plays in a more advanced wing-back role - just the combination you want in a defender. Only three players in the entire division have more assists than the former Bayern man's six, which has helped him race to the top of the charts for defenders in Fantasy, and seventh across all positions. And he's done it all at a basement price that has only risen over the course of the campaign and will continue to do so if you don't snatch him up now.

Mid-range option

Daley Blind (Bayern Munich, 11M)

Blind was an unexpected arrival at the Allianz Arena this winter, but when you consider his undoubted ability, versatility and vast experience at the highest level the 32-year-old looks an astute signing. Bayern sent for Blind due to injury to Lucas Hernandez and with Noussair Mazraoui also out with illness for the time being, Daley is likely to get his chance. With all that in mind, and considering how water-tight the Bayern defence has been this season, the Dutchman looks a snip in a usually expensive squad.

Watch: Daley Blind - welcome to Bayern Munich

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Premium pick

Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 13M)

The Gladbach man may be on the high end of the scale when it comes to his price tag, but he's worth every penny. Bensebaini - who, like Weiser, can often be found playing at wing-back - is currently the second-highest scoring defender in the game. No other defender in the league has scored more than Bensebaini (five), who is also often on penalty duty for Daniel Farke's improving outfit - as was the case when he converted from 12-yards against Cologne.

Midfielders

Budget buster

Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt, 4M)

Frankfurt have got one eye on the future with the signing of highly-talented 19-year-old American, Aaronson, but the teenager will be looking to impress his new employers right from the off. The attacking midfielder does have some prestigious players to dislodge in the form of Mario Götze and Daichi Kamada, but with Die Adler balancing Bundesliga football with UEFA Champions League and DFB Cup runs, there is plenty of football to go around. Across his young career so far, Aaronson has already shown he has an eye for goal.

Watch: Paxten Aaronson - Frankfurt's new US prospect

Mid-range option

Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, 12.2M)

Leverkusen fans have been counting down the days until their teenage sensation would return to action. He looked imperious last season and had seven goals as well as 10 assists to his name before he met a painful end to the campaign after 24 appearances. He's now approaching full fitness and already found the back of the net in Leverkusen's winter friendlies. Club legend Rudi Völler said recently: "Just with his presence on the field, our whole game transforms." Fantasy sides may also be revamped with Wirtz in their ranks.

Premium pick

Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund, 14.7M)

Dortmund's remarkably talented England international is the third-highest scoring midfielder in the game so far (144 points), and only injured RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku (18.2M) has a higher points-per-game average than Bellingham's 10. Not only is he consistently one of the first names on the Dortmund teamsheet, but you could also pin your hat on his performances bringing you about regular Fantasy points also. He's won more tackles than any other players in the division (245), he regularly sets up teammates have a shot on goal and he's certainly not shy of an effort himself.

Watch: Jude Bellingham - the complete midfielder

Forwards

Budget buster

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich, 5.8M)

If Choupo-Moting continues his form from late 2022, he simply has to be in your team. At just 5.8M, he's an absolute steal and, in the absence of Sadio Mane, he's now a guaranteed starter at the pointy end of Julian Nagelsmann's goal-hungry XI. There is so much quality around him that Choupo-Moting is sure to get chances to score and he has proven with six goals in his last six matches that he can take them. He also threw in two assists in that time.

Mid-range option

Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt, 12.7M)

Frankfurt striker Kolo Muani went into the winter break as the league's leading assist provider (nine) and with a further five goals of his own to his name. He returns to domestic action as a fully fledged France international, and on the back of a strong World Cup showing that result in the 24-year-old scoring in the semi-final and winning a penalty in the showpiece as he and his country collected a runners-up medal. He will be full of confidence and keen to keep making an impression.

Premium pick

Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, 13.5M)

While no timeline has been given for Haller's return to competitive action, there has been a hugely positive sign in that direction. The Ivory Coast international got his first tentative minutes in a BVB shirt during their friendly matches out in Spain over the winter break following cancer diagnosis and looks to be nearing a return to action. At former clubs Frankfurt and Ajax, Haller was a proven goalscorer, and there is no doubt he will be for Dortmund too.

Watch: Sebastien Haller's road back from cancer

Further Fantasy content:

• New Fantasy features for 2023
• Fantasy Team of the Season so far
• To Bayern or not to Bayern? How many of their forwards should you have?
• Best players this season by club
• Top 5 premium picks for 2023