When quizzed about moving to Liverpool or Manchester United, Marcel Sabitzer said he could imagine a move to the Premier League in the summer.
While all supporters can talk about right now is Ibrahima Konate’s desire to join the club, it could be that he moves to Merseyside alongside RB Leipzig teammate Sabitzer if reports are to be believed.
German publication Bild report, as translated and reported in England by Sport Witness, that Liverpool are looking to sell Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool have verbal agreement to sign Konate this summer
Liverpool’s English midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (L), Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp (C) and Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Fabinho walk off the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park in south London on December 19, 2020. – Liverpool won the match 7-0. PHOTO BY CLIVE ROSE/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES.
Our own sources suggest that Chamberlain is still valued and wanted by Jurgen Klopp but the link to Sabitzer is an interesting one. The Austrian midfielder would fit Liverpool like a glove, with Leipzig’s style of play when out of possession very similar to the Reds.
More to the point, the long-shot expert plays a similar role to Georginio Wijnaldum with a few yet distinct differences.
Both midfielders are tasked with winning the ball high up the pitch and failing that, providing support for fullbacks when they go out to meet advancing wingers or opposite fullbacks.
The key difference is how they operate when in possession. Wijnaldum plays a very passive role in Jurgen Klopp’s side, with the Dutchman instructed to value ball retention over playing incisive passes between the lines.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool passes the ball during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux on March 15, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. PHOTO BY SAM BAGNALL – WWFC/WOLVES VIA GETTY IMAGES.
Sabitzer’s role in the Leipzig engine room is more expansive and comes with more license to get forward.
His ability to score from long range is something that I’d love to see at Liverpool but I’m not sure it’s something Klopp would encourage as he prefers his midfielders to focus on supporting the front three as opposed to getting in on the scoring themselves.
Speaking to Kicker, as quoted by the Express, the 27-year-old was quizzed about joining Liverpool or Manchester United to which he responded: “I can imagine it a lot.”
He then replied to a question about playing in the Wijnaldum role at Anfield, saying: “I enjoy the position. The new position also changed my game again. In the centre, you will receive the ball more and you have to make faster decisions.
“However, I still have the urge to create something offensively.”
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – DECEMBER 12: Marcel Sabitzer of RB Leipzig scores a penalty for his team’s first goal during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and SV Werder Bremen at Red Bull Arena on December 12, 2020 in Leipzig, Germany. PHOTO BY STUART FRANKLIN/GETTY IMAGES
Transfermarkt value the midfielder at £37.8million and given his age and what he can offer to Liverpool, this is a very reasonable fee.
He’s scored seven goals and created six this season despite playing a more conservative role compared to last year when he ended the season with 16 goals and 11 assists while playing predominantly as a right-wing or attacking midfielder.
