Speaking recently on The Gab & Juls Show, Gabriele Marcotti and Julien Laurens discussed Tottenham’s interest in RB Leipzig midfielder, Marcel Sabitzer, with Marcotti claiming that he is unsure the player suits the style of Tottenham Hotspur manager, Jose Mourinho.
Since moving to Leipzig from Rapid Vienna in what was a £1.8 million deal back in 2014, Sabitzer has gone on to prove himself as a vital part of Julian Nagelsmann’s side, scoring 46 goals and providing 38 assists over his 204 appearances, as well as being made the club captain.
The £31.5 million-rated 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the Bundesliga club this January, with Tottenham reported to be extremely keen on bringing the Austria international to north London in the upcoming window.
However, after Laurens claimed that Tottenham’s north London rivals, Arsenal, were also interested in making a move for Sabitzer this January, both he and Marcotti, speaking on a recent episode of The Gabs & Juls Show, discussed whether they thought a move to Spurs or Arsenal would better suit the midfielder.
Marcotti said: “From his personal development perspective, would you advise [a move to] Spurs and Mourinho or Arsenal and [Mikel] Arteta? What’s a better fit for him? Oh, [Laurens] is on the spot because if he says Spurs, what about his boy [Tanguy] Ndombele?”
Laurens replied: “Or [Moussa] Sissoko, even. I mean, Sissoko is the boss. No one can take his place. And you saw [what happened] without him [against Wolverhampton Wanderers].”
That led Marcotti to suggest Sabitzer was ‘not a Mourinho player’, to which Laurens responded: “No, I see what you mean. That’s what I was going to say, I see what you mean.”
Do you think that Sabitzer would suit Mourinho's style of football?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Marcotti and Laurens’ comments regarding Marcel Sabitzer…
Despite the fact that Tottenham have been heavily linked with a move for Sabitzer this January, as well as Mundo Deportivo reporting that Mourinho has fallen in love with the midfielder, it would appear that both of Marcotti and Laurens are unsure if the 26-year-old will fit in with Mourinho’s style of football at Spurs.
However, considering that two of Sabitzer’s strengths are considered to be his key passes and his defensive contributions, in our opinion, this would appear to match up with Tottenham’s attributed team strengths of creating chances through individual skill, their counter-attacks and playing in their own half.