Why Signing RB Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg Can Boost Manchester United’s Activity On The Wings
When Emil Forsberg left then-Swedish champions Malmo to join RB Leipzig – a second-tier German team – in January 2015, many felt like he was downgrading for no reason. The ability of a team to perform well comes from their players’ passion and the German club seem to be the best example. From struggling in the second-tier to coming close to winning the Bundesliga title, RB Leipzig have seen a successful run of form of late and much of that has happened because of their players.
Forsberg is undoubtedly one of the most important players at the club, and it is believed that Manchester United are interested in signing a deal with him in January. In fact, Jose Mourinho monitored the midfielder as Sweden won against Italy recently, and seems to be pleased with what he saw.
Ever since injuries sidelined Paul Pogba, United have been struggling in the middle of the park. Nemanja Matic continues to be vital but when it comes to orchestrating attacks, the Red Devils lack creativity. Marouane Fellaini proved to be promising and it will be interesting to see how well he fares in the next couple of games. However, there is a shocking lack of depth in that area and Forsberg could prove to be a valuable addition to Mourinho’s squad.
The Swedish midfielder was key for RB Leipzig as the club staged a Leicester City-esque challenge for the Bundesliga title. Granted, Bayern Munich won in the end but there is no denying the kind of raw quality Leipzig displayed – much of which can be attributed to Forsberg.
Alongside players like Naby Keita and Timo Werner, Forsberg played a major role in their inspirational fight in the club’s debut Bundesliga season. He ended the campaign with 19 assists to show for his efforts, and a player like him is what United need right now.
An operator on the left-hand side, Forsberg could incredibly boost activity on the wings for Mourinho. There is a dire need for United to strengthen themselves in the wide attacking areas to provide an edge to their performances, and the 26-year-old can bring all that and more. His technical ability and mobility remain unparalleled at Leipzig. His passing skills are top-notch and Forsberg’s reading of the game is quite impressive, which contributes to his rapid decision-making on the field.
In fact, he is renowned for often straying into situations to orchestrate attacks out of nowhere. Judging from how blunt United’s attack has been, Forsberg can truly make a difference. Interestingly, Werner scored a lot of goals last season only because of Forsberg’s passing and effectiveness during counter attacks. He can do the same for Romelu Lukaku, who has been underwhelming of late due to the lack of support from his teammates. Forsberg is a player United should pursue if they want to add depth to their attack.