AS Monaco have bolstered their attack with the signing of Germany striker Kevin Volland from Bayer Leverkusen, but what else is there to know about the latest arrival at the Stade Louis II?
1) More prolific than Havertz?
Kai Havertz has picked up plenty of column inches this summer, securing a transfer to Chelsea of the back of his 12-goal Bundesliga season for Bayer Leverkusen. Volland was only two goals behind the youngster in five fewer starts, though. Add in the new Monaco man's seven assists to Havertz's six, and he had a goal involvement every 121 minutes last term, compared to Havertz's 137.
2) Versatile Volland
The above may be questioned on the grounds that Havertz is a midfielder, Volland a striker, but that fails to recognise quite how versatile Niko Kovac's latest acquisition is (and indeed Havertz, who played up front in the second half of last season).
Able to play across the final third, five of Volland's 24 Bundesliga starts last season even came at left midfield. A diminutive 5'8" attacker, the left-footer may appear to be in direct competition with Wissam Ben Yedder, but he has been signed to complement last season's 18-goal top scorer, not displace him.
Watch: Highlights of Monaco's 2-1 win over Nantes
3) Record breaker
Not that Volland figures to take much time getting off the mark himself. The 28-year-old is the owner of the fastest Bundesliga goal on record - scored against Manuel Neuer no less. Volland was a Hoffenheim player at the time, Pep Guardiola Bayern Munich's manager in their August 2015 meeting.
Volland took just nine seconds to get off the mark, capitalising on a loose pass from David Alaba to Jerome Boateng at the back. Volland had 62 minutes without a goal before making way for Henry Onyekuru on his Ligue 1 Uber Eats debut (a 2-1 win against FC Nantes last Sunday). But fear not, Monaco fans. Volland is not one to wait.
4) A Germany international once… and once again?
Volland is a 10-time Germany international who first turned out for Die Mannschaft in May 2014, a few months before they won the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He didn't make the plane to the Finals that year, though, and hasn't featured for his nation since November 2016.
The owner of 25 goals in 48 youth national team appearances, Volland could force his way back into the international fold with good form in the principality. Jürgen Klinsmann scored 13 of his 47 Germany goals as a Monaco player, and if Volland can make half the impact the former Ligue 1 Uber Eats runner up, club and country will be happy.
5) In the genes?
Volland's father Andreas Volland was also a left-sided attacker who turned out for Germany… but in ice hockey.
Volland Senior's peak years rather coincided with Klinsmann's. He scored 52 points in five years with Mannheim, finishing as a league runner-up in 1987. His last game was in 2004, just four years before Volland Junior made his Germany U17 debut.
