There are widespread reports of Julian Draxler moving to Old Trafford, a year after completing his move to Wolfsburg from Schalke 04.
The German international had a good season at the Volkswagen arena, earning him a spot in the national team ahead of the ongoing Euro competition, and with Wolfsburg failing to qualify for Europe next season, there is a likelihood for his exit to greener pastures.
A club of Manchester United’s stature can still allure any player, and with Jose Mourinho at the helm, the player would readily agree to switch from Germany to England.
However, how would he fit into the United setup?
Creativity
Big teams thrive on attacking football, and Draxler fits the bill of being the complete attacker. Last season, he finished with 9 goals and 7 assists.
He also averaged 1.7 key passes per game. These are feats that he could improve on.
He also has good dribbling skills, and could therefore prove to be a threat to opposing defenders. He also can come up with the occasional long range goal.
Versatility
Draxler can play all across the attacking midfield, and as a winger. His versatility would allow the attackers to switch positions therefore giving the opposing defence a hard time.
This would add an unpredictable aspect to Man United’s game making them a threat to the opposition.
Ball retention and possession
Generally, Draxler is good with the ball at his feet. He had a pass completion rate of 84% for Wolfsburg and he averaged 2.5 long balls per match.
This shows that he is not wasteful in possession, something that Mourinho will definitely be proud of.
However, Draxler is still a working progress with a couple of limitations.
First, his injury record is something that could be of concern as he managed only 3 appearances for Schalke in the 2015-16 season.
This however, could be overlooked as his first season for Wolfsburg he managed 23 Bundesliga appearances. Therefore he is worth the risk.
Draxler is also lethargic in tackling and therefore does not easily dispossess opponents.
His defensive traits are also low, and this might be a huge concern for Jose Mourinho, who is keen to establish a good defensive team, with all players doing their bit of defending.
Still quality
At the age of 22, Draxler has been there for a long time, and is one to look out for. Therefore, he could be a superb Manchester United signing.
Written by Julius Musya
Follow Julius on Twitter @jsmusya
Like O-Posts on Facebook
You can also follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts