What Austrian Star Would Bring to Tottenham in January
By Aaron Coe
There have been rumors swirling that Tottenham Hotspur might be in for RB Leipzig’s midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, what would the Austrian bring to Spurs.
Marcel Sabitzer is a 26-year-old attacking midfielder who can play in any of the positions across the attacking band. The Austrian has been at RB Leipzig since 2014 joining from Rapid Vienna in Austria. However, his contract now has less than 18 months on it and rumors have been popping up linking the Bundesliga star with several Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, so what is the hype all about.
Sabitzer’s Background
Marcel Sabitzer is an attacking player most often deployed at right wing for RB Leipzig, playing there in 98 of 194 appearances or 51% of the time. If not on the right wing for RB, he is likely to be positioned as a second striker or attacking midfielder, which represent 30% of his appearances. A consummate team player, Sabitzer has even made appearance at left wing (6), center forward (5), and defensive midfield (1) in his six years at the club.
Sabitzer’s breakout season was in 2014-15 his one season with Red Bull Salzburg where he amassed an impressive 27 goals and 21 assists in 51 matches. Marcel split time almost evening between center-forward, second striker, and left wing that season, having the most impact as a center forward scoring 12 goals and adding 10 assists from that position.
Sabitzer had joined RB Leipzig in 2014-15 from Rapid Vienna but RB sent him out on loan to Salzburg, were he proceeded to have that breakout campaign. Following that breakout season Marcel returned to Leipzig and scored 8 goals and added 5 assists as RB Leipzig earned promotion from Bundesliga 2 to the Bundesliga in German football.
Sabitzer and RB Leipzig have been plying their trade in the Bundesliga ever since that promotion. Over that time, Sabitzer has consistently added a handful of goals and assists each season for Leipzig. Prior to last season Marcel’s high was nine goals in 2016-17 and nine assists in 2017-18.
Last season, things again began to for Sabitzer in a new way from a productivity standpoint. In all competitions Sabitzer scored 16 goals and added 11 assists, starting to look more like the player dominating the Austrian Bundesliga with Salzburg. Of course, two of those goals came at the expense of Tottenham in the Champions League last season.