It seems that a number of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United, have been offered a bargain.
RB Leipzig’s rise to the upper echelons of the Bundesliga has not been without controversy – the protests from opposing fans continue to go on despite them now being in their fourth campaign in the German top tier – but even the most staunch opponent of Die Rotenbullen cannot argue that there a team without talent.
Timo Werner will naturally catch the eye, having scored 27 goals already this season, but Emil Forsberg is another who has impressed for the club down the years, no less than when he racked up 22 assists in 30 Bundesliga matches during the 2016/17 campaign.
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In search of a new challenge, he is said to have been “massively offered” to those sides previously mentioned, as well as Everton (Bild via Sport Witness). With a price of around €20m (£17m), he would not break the bank either.
But what do the experts say about his quality?
Here are three glowing endorsements from the people who know him best.
Timo Werner, RB Leipzig striker
This has been Timo Werner’s most prolific campaign to date in all competitions, but his second-highest tally came in 2016/17. He scored 21 goals in the Bundesliga that year, of which six were assisted by Sweden international Forsberg.
Following Leipzig’s 3-2 win against Hannover 96 last season, in which Forsberg provided for both of the 23-year-old striker’s goals, Werner was glowing in his appraisal of his teammate. Via Leipzig’s official Twitter page, he said:
“Emil has already taken the league apart when in his best form – and he can do exactly that again. I’m very happy that I’m at the receiving end of his brilliant deliveries.”
That was just one of the many days on which Forsberg has proved his creative abilities in Germany – he has, prior to Leipzig’s Sunday clash with Bayer Leverkusen, provided 50 assists in 167 matches for his club.
Julian Nagelsmann, RB Leipzig manager
Nagelsmann took over in the hot-seat at the start of this season at Leipzig, and has since guided them to their first-ever Champions League knockout stage tie. However, he needed some big moments from his team in the group stage, and Forsberg was one of those to provide. Leipzig were trailing 2-0 against Benfica going into injury time in one clash, but two last-gasp goals from the 28-year-old earned them a valuable point.
After the clash, Nagelsmann said (via Bundesliga.com):
“Emil’s a real asset. We have a lot of very gifted young players in the attacking areas. He’s one of the older guys, but gives us something else. He’s made for those games where you need that little something extra to break through. He provides balance, creativity and goals.”
Whilst Leipzig have a squad full of up-and-coming talent, they still need some experience to go with that youthful experience.
Forsberg’s presence provides a perfect contrast.
A talent who can unpick the door in tight encounters is a valuable commodity at any level.
Hasan Cetinkaya, Emil Forsberg’s agent
However, all is not well in the Forsberg camp. He is said to be getting frustrated by his lack of playing time under Nagelsmann – he has started just 13 matches in all competitions this term – and he has admitted it is not going well for him at the club right now (Sport Bild via bulinews.com), even insinuating that he may be on the move in the future.
Commenting on Spurs’ interest to Expressen (via The Daily Mail), Cetinkaya said:
“Mourinho is a great legend who has worked with Victor Lindelof as well. Together with Victor, Forsberg is the biggest star in the national team and has caused total chaos in Leipzig.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic may once have held the mantle of Sweden’s biggest star, but Forsberg, at least from an attacking sense, has now taken over following the striker’s international retirement.
Whilst he may not have the glamour of the AC Milan star, he has had a positive impact on his nation’s fortunes – he started all five of their matches as they made the 2018 World Cup quarter finals, which was further than they ever managed with Ibrahimovic.