Ronald Koeman’s Everton have stuttered in recent weeks having made an excellent start to the Premier League season.

The Toffees, under the stewardship of the Dutchman after he replaced the sacked Roberto Martinez in the summer, won four of their opening five league games, and were being widely tipped to stake a claim for a European spot.

However, just one victory in seven since then means that Koeman’s men have lost ground on the leading pack, and now find themselves six points behind fourth place Arsenal, and nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

A 5-0 mauling away at Chelsea was a reminder that Koeman still had a lot of work to do to change this Everton side from one that conceded 55 goals last season and finished 11th in the top-flight to genuine European contenders.

Nonetheless, Everton are seventh in the division, level on points with Manchester United, and Koeman will visit his old club Southampton on Sunday as his side look to get back to winning ways.

Unsurprisingly, the Toffees’ presence in and around the European spots has increased speculation about who they might sign in January in a bid to remain there come May.

Thus, here are TWO Bundesliga stars Koeman should try and snap up in January…

Sead Kolasinac

Photo: Offside / L’Equipe.

Schalke defender Sead Kolasinac is in demand after an impressive couple of seasons at the Bundesliga club.

The 23-year-old left-back came up through the ranks at the club, and made his senior debut back in 2012. Since then, he has made 95 further appearances for the German outfit, including regular starts in their two Champions League campaigns back in 2012 and 2013.

Leighton Baines is 31 now and, although he is still a fine left-back, a few injuries have plagued his progress in recent times, which has also seen him drop out of the England reckoning.

Kolasinac is strong, gets forward well, and has an eye for a pass, and could be the perfect long-term replacement for Baines.

Sebastian Rudy

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

With James McCarthy likely to leave in January, Darron Gibson out of favour, and Gareth Barry 36 in February, manager Koeman may want to freshen things up in the middle of the park.

Thus, he could take a look at Hoffenheim midfielder Sebastian Rudy, 12-times a German international.

The 26-year-old has been impressive in the middle for the German side this season, netting once and laying on four assists to help the club to an unbeaten start to their league campaign.

He’d certainly bolster Koeman’s midfield options, and could be the mainstay of the Everton midfield alongside Idrissa Gueye and Tom Cleverley for years to come.