Philipp Max seems to be the latest Bundesliga talent linked to the lofty heights of English football. The Daily Mail reported this week that Manchester City had a scout at Augsburg’s 3-3 draw with Freiburg to watch the full-back and join a growing list of interested parties that include Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Everton.
Indeed, like most transfer rumours there’s usually very little smoke without fire and in the 24-year old defender there is a player that could undoubtedly improve both Man City and Chelsea’s teams, should a move materialise in January.
Max is unquestionably an attacking full-back. In fact, some would perhaps go as far as to suggest that the player from the north-west of Germany is a full-blown wingback who prioritises attacking far more than his defensive responsibilities. However, that’s not exactly a bad thing.
Despite playing for ninth-placed Augsburg, Max currently leads the Bundesliga’s assists chart with nine passes that had led directly to a goal. That’s three more than Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Muller. And an exceptionally impressive tally for a full-back in a league full of exquisite wingers and playmakers
Indeed, it’s Max’s ability to swing in obtrusive crosses to opposing defensive lines - either from open play or set pieces - that has really galvanised Augsburg’s attack and surely what a coach like Pep Guardiola would seek in his concept of a modern full-back.
Indeed, the Premier League leaders are currently reliant on Fabian Delph as a stand-in defender while Benjamin Mendy recovers from injury, with no adequate cover whatsoever in the left-back position.
That’s far from ideal for a team with aspirations like Man City’s, suggesting Max may prove a crude signing in January. Even when Mendy does recover from injury, the German defender could provide appropriate competition to the similar attack-minded full-back for the remainder of the season.
Chelsea, similarly, seem to heavily rely on Marco Alonso as the club’s only available left wing-back, as Antonio Conte has little cover in the position while Baba Rahman recovers from a long-term injury. The club have young, Brazilian full-back Kenedy on the books but he hasn’t yet been deemed good enough for a call up to the first team.
At Stamford Bridge Max would also need very little time to prove his worth. Conte’s 3-4-3 formation heavily relies upon physical, quick wing-backs that can prioritize attacking moves as they bomb down the wing.