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Germany could rest their Premier League players for the 2017 Confederations Cup, with general manager Oliver Bierhoff telling Sport Bild the English top flight is "hugely exhausting." World Cup holders Germany will take part in the tournament -- which runs from June 17 through to July 2 next year -- alongside hosts Russia and continental champions Portugal, Chile, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the winner of the 2017 Africa Nations Cup. Germany boss Joachim Low has already indicated that he plans to rest several key players for the competition, though, and Bierhoff said the Premier League contingent may not travel to Russia. "We need to find the right mix of players we want to develop and players we want to allow a break and with a heavy international workload -- especially those without a winter break," Bierhoff said. "That's very demanding. It's no secret that the English league is hugely exhausting." Among those who could be rested are Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Skhodran Mustafi, Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan and Liverpool's Emre Can. Germany have also qualified for the European Under-21 Championship, which takes place at exactly the same time in Poland. Several members of the national team, including Bayer Leverkusen's Julian Brandt and Schalke's Max Meyer, are also eligible to play for the U21s as they target a first win in the competition since 2009.
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