Arsenal could land Marcel Sabitzer transfer on bargain fee

Arsenal will be out hunting for bargains this summer wherever they may come, as long as they are improvements and not just cost efficient means that bypass effective squad building. Marcel Sabitzer fits neatly into that the bargain improvement category.

Whoever has a good game during the European Championships will suddenly become the best player in the world and the man your club should be pushing out all the stops to sign. Breel Embolo managed that against Wales and Kalvin Phillips likewise against Croatia. Now there is another.

Arsenal are faced with an unprecedented amount of work this summer from goalkeeper to playmaker, with central midfield no different.

Player sales will come first as the club aims to bulk up the transfer kitty with enough money to launch a meaningful assault on the market. The figure varies but the Gunners would like to raise in the region of £60m through departures, with the rest of the budget made up, hopefully, by KSE investment. That’s what they promised, anyway.

Arsenal could land Marcel Sabitzer signing from RB Leipzig on incredible bargain fee this summer transfer window

Wherever money can be saved, the better. If that’s including someone in a deal or signing a player who is literally banned from playing football at the minute, it’s a deal worth pursuing as long as they raise the level at the club.

It’s hard to argue that Marcel Sabitzer wouldn’t.

The Austrian has been a figurehead of the Bundesliga and the leader of RB Leipzig from the moment they were promoted in 2016. He’s also been a talisman for his country since making his debut in 2012, and is now leading them out as their No. 9 in the 2020 European Championships.

Sabitzer has started off the campaign well, too. The 27-year-old put in an excellent performance as Austria ran out 3-1 winners over North Macedonia which, of course, prompted fans to call for his signature.

Even if Sabitzer had a stinker at the National Arena in Bucharest, his name on the dotted line should still be as desired, mostly due to him being available for an absolute bargain. Clubs across Europe have been circling around his name for years, with the only sticking point being his hefty €50m release clause. Were it not for that then he would likely have gone long ago.

This summer, however, he could be available for an absolute pittance at £15m. Just £15m, for Marcel Sabitzer in his prime. Doesn’t seem fair.

With 12 months to go on his contract and The Athletic stating he is looking for a new challenge and unlikely to pen fresh terms, this is an avenue Arsenal should not only pursue, but get done.

Continued…

Marcel Sabitzer With Be a Magnificent Signing for Arsenal

One need only to look at Austria’s opening goal of their 3-1 win to have the above question answered.

What. A. Pass.

The assist of the tournament is already wrapped up. Sabitzer’s ball was out of this world.

But instead of a knee-jerk reaction to one to goal, Sabitzer would bring Arsenal everything they want in the centre of the park. Or indeed anywhere on the pitch, since he’s so versatile he can play pretty much every position. On Sunday he lined up on the left wing, allowed to drift inside and dominate the half-spaces, while for RB Leipzig he’s played on either wing, at centre-forward, as a false nine, an attacking midfielder or deeper in midfield.

What has taken place of the past 18 months, however, is a natural shift into central midfield permanently. There he is still the rock he’s always been for RB Leipzig, demonstrating grace and leadership in the engine room.

With Granit Xhaka’s distribution in need of replacing, Sabitzer’s range of pass with either foot is even better. They come from all angles, whether through balls between the lines or these delightful scooped crosses he makes either early or en route to the byline. The quality of his passing is outstanding, but so too the timing and direction of them. 7.10 progressive passes per 90 (96th percentile) and 1.93 passes into the penalty area (97th percentile) demonstrate that ability isn’t going to waste.

Sabitzer is someone who loves to shoot and is a regular goal threat from anywhere across the pitch, currently boasting a 93rd percentile rating for non penalty expected goals. With 52 goals and 42 assists in 227 RB Leipzig appearances across six seasons, he has a proven track record.

£15m is ridiculous money. An outrageous bargain. Having just turned 27 the midfielder is now coming into his prime, and while Arsenal would preferably be bringing in players of a younger profile, the need for experience and leadership remains key with numerous senior stars heading for the exit door.

For this kind of money it is a no-brainer.