- 3 hours ago
Who is Christoph Baumgartner, the Bundesliga wonderkid linked with Man Utd?
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
- 2 min read
Man Utd are reportedly interested in signing 21-year-old Hoffenheim midfielder Christoph Baumgartner this summer, according to the Sun.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to add to his attacking ranks this summer and provide more competition in the attacking midfield area in order to ease the creative burden on Bruno Fernandes, who basically plays every single game at the moment.
Baumgartner is usually deployed behind the striker but can feature in a deeper area in midfield, too, while he has, on occasion, been asked to play on the wing and cut inside into the central area.
After impressing for Hoffenheim II, Baumgartner was promoted to the senior squad and given his first-team debut by Julian Nagelsmann as a half-time substitute in a game against Schalke in May of 2019.
The next season in 2019/20 he was a full member of the senior squad and went on to make 17 starts in the Bundesliga, scoring seven goals and assisting a further two.
He would continue his impressive form into 2020/21, with him scoring three goals and assisting three more in 15 starts.
| 2020/21 Stats | Value |
|---|---|
| Starts | 15 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Final Third Passes P90 | 15.3 |
| Crosses P90 | 1.3 |
| Dribbles P90 | 1.5 |
| Duels Won P90 | 7.3 |
Hoffenheim, like most other clubs in Europe, after suffering from increased financial difficulties due to the current pandemic, and so would be willing to part with Baumgartner for as little as £16m [€18m] despite him being viewed as the golden boy of the club.
The Bundesliga side are notorious for their tough negotiations, as proved by the transfer of Joelinton to Newcastle for £40m [€45m] in the summer of 2019.
They are obviously not in as strong a position as previously, which is why Man Utd hope to bring him in for a cut down price.
Baumgartner is viewed as one of the brightest young talents to come through in Austria in years, and he has already made his debut for the senior international side, and has two goals to his name already against Romania and Greece.
Reports from Germany liken his style to former Bayern and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, such as his tendency to make late runs into the box and pull the strings in central areas.
