According to Independent, Barcelona have identified Philipp Max as an ideal alternative should their pursuit of Junior Firpo fail. The FC Augsburg defender, along with David Alaba is among the players the Catalans have targeted as they aim to bolster the left-back department this summer. Alaba, however, is too expensive an option while Real Betis, also, have set a hefty asking price for Firpo, making Max the likelier choice.
Max’s success in the Bundesliga
A former member of the Schalke youth academy, Max has been a part of the FC Augsburg side since 2015. He arrived from Karlsruher for a fee of €3.8 million. And the German fullback turned out to be a bargain for Die Fuggerstadter.
Max became an ever-present figure in the Augsburg backline, having made 125 competitive appearances during his ongoing four-year spell at the club. But, he mainly rose to prominence during the 2017/18 campaign, when he ended the season as the league’s most creative defender, with as many as 13 assists.
The Bavarians endured a challenging time last season. But, Max still managed to make critical contributions by scoring four goals and providing four assists. It’s entirely fair to say that the defender has been unlucky to not make an impact in the German national team as of yet.
What can the German bring to the table?
A left-back by trade, Max is arguably the best crosser in the league. The 25-year-old is capable of offering extensive attacking support from the flanks and whip in all kinds of crosses into the box. He delivered 60 key passes last season, more than half of which originated from crosses.
Max is also proficient from set-pieces, with 27 of his chances created, originating from either corners or free-kicks. Furthermore, the German is known for his aggression and tenacity that allows him to win the ball back from the opposition. He attempted 53 tackles last season with a success rate of 66%.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Is Max a good fit for Barcelona?
Max is quite an unorthodox fullback, at least when it comes to Barcelona’s possession-based football. But, it’s probably fair to point out that the 25-year-old’s crossing-oriented gameplay could add another dimension to Barca’s approach from the flanks.
The Augsburg star is also a considerably cheaper option when compared to the likes of Firpo and Alaba. But, he definitely needs to improve on his passing and ball distribution, if he is to integrate to the style of football Barcelona have adopted under Ernesto Valverde.
