Julian Draxler: Is he the next German attacking sensation?

Julian Draxler

Who is Julian Draxler?

Ever since making his debut for Schalke against Hamburg on 15 January 2011, Julian Draxler’s stock has been on the rise. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who is adept at playing anywhere in attack, but favors the left wing, is a player who has been on the radars of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City for quite a while now.

His stunning displays for Schalke in the past 18 months have only strengthened his case and the German international, who almost signed for Chelsea in the summer, might yet move away from the Veltins Arena before the end of the season.

Style of play

Over the past decade or so, Germany has been producing plenty of attacking midfielders, with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Nuri Sahin making a name for themselves in Germany and then moving onto better things. Draxler comes from the same production line of attacking midfielders, who are versatile and can play in more than one position, with great aplomb.

Although he play anywhere in the front line, it is on the left wing that Draxler has made a name for himself with his intelligent passing and excellent dribbling skills. Not only can the German pick a pass, he also has a great shot on him and has proven himself to be quite an effective player, when it comes to shooting from outside the box, as was evident from his stunning winner in the 1-0 win over Basel.

Last season, he scored or assisted in 20 goals, contributing little more than a goal every two games. And with numbers like that, it is no wonder that he is vying for a spot in the German national team, where he faces stiff competition from Lukas Podolksi and Marco Reus for the left wing position. And although, he plays as a left winger, he is equally adept at hugging the touch line whipping crosses in and cutting inside and threading the eye of the needle with his intricate passing.

Strengths

Standing 6 feet 2 in, not only is the German good on the ground, he is also excellent in the air. One of his main strengths is his ability to read the game and choose the opportune moment to pick the perfect pass. One more than one occasion in the past 18 months, the German youngster has dug Schalke out of a hole, thanks to his eye for goal, particularly from distance.

One of his main strengths is his maturity on the ball. For a player who is just 20, he shows ability and maturity beyond his years and is always available and more than capable of doing just what is required to get the goal. His pace and dribbling skills mean that he is always a threat on the counter attack. His finishing means that more often than not, he ends take his chances when it comes his way.

Weaknesses

The only real weakness that this versatile youngster has, is his ineffectiveness in tracking back and contributing on the defensive end. As a winger, he isn’t one who is likely to hold his shape for the entire 90 minutes and it is this that is his only real weakness. But, this too, is likely to fade away as he plays more games and understands the need for him to do his bit on the defensive side as well.

Verdict

An attacking midfielder, who would be a welcome addition to most Premier League clubs with his dribbling and finishing skills, is a must-have for any side, looking to add some creativity on the flanks, especially on the left. If Moyes is out there, looking for someone to fill the gap on the left wing, the young German winger would be the perfect addition to the squad.