As auditions go, Marcel Sabitzer’s could not have gone any better. His first was a driven effort from outside the penalty area.
The 25-year-old is capable of the sublime, the attack against Zenit is among the goals of the Champions League but he is also a trusted goal threat, too, frequently getting into the box to encourage RB’s attackers.
He is among RB Leipzig’s underrated gems. Tottenham’s interest for the Austrian international is due to the meeting between both sides. But after his two-goal revealing against José Mourinho’s men, he left a lasting impression. In accordance with Calciomercato, Spurs are fighting neighbors Arsenal for Sabitzer’s signature.
That is three times as many strikes as he handled last season. In the kind of his life under new manager Julian Nagelsmann, the liberty the prior Hoffenheim boss has given him has led to the former Rapid Wien guy bossing proceedings in the right-hand side of the pitch.
Sabitzer has only two years left on his deal in the Red Bull Arena. RB Leipzig doesn’t need to sell him this summer but when he does not extend his contract, the Bundesliga club will fight to pocket a significant fee for him at the end of next year.
It isn’t now or not but the next transfer window may be the RBL’s best chance to cash in.
Domestically, Sabitzer is currently delivering. He has added value to his attempts, 0.05 to be exact, and this is evident when looking at his post-shot anticipated goals amounts.
Sabitzer is not on volume, taking only 2.59 shots per 90. For context, this is not sufficient to place him in the top 40 for this metric when compared to other Bundesliga midfielders.
Concerning output, the 25-year-old is a really reliable goal threat from a broad area. These kinds of players are valuable in the current market. Sabitzer recovers the ball, normally, almost eight times per 90. It is safe to say he places in a shift.
On the ball, Sabitzer ticks all the correct boxes. He is heavily involved, trying 46 moves per 90, a good amount for a foreign player. Despite playing 32 percent of his moves ahead, he finds a team-mate with 76 percent.
Sabitzer is creating 2.2 opportunities per 90 and he’s an expected aids average of 0.20 (per 90). This year in the Bundesliga he is averaging an assist every five games and a goal every four.
Though mostly deployed on the right, it’s odd to find the volume of moves in the right-wing place so greater than the total he has tried centrally. Creative players, wherever they are set up, usually drift inside and seem to affect proceedings there.
The fact Sabitzer has tried almost 200 more moves from the right than in the region normally associated with attacking midfielders is intriguing. Especially, when you consider he is creating, normally, 2.2 opportunities per 90. It paints him out for an exceptional attacker. A lawmaker from a broad area, who just so happens to be a dependable, and a continuous, goal threat.
No fee was mooted but if clubs have the ability to pry him away from RB Leipzig for whatever under #50million, it may be a clever bit of business. For Spurs, he may have the ability to fill the void left by Christian Eriksen’s death to Internazionale. For Arsenal, he is Mikel Arteta’s response to Kevin De Bruyne. He is a player who readily improves both teams.
