Philipp Max has shone in the Bundesliga with Augsburg while Manchester City and Everton compete to bring him to the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola knows what it takes to make a quality full-back. The Catalan coach has worked with some of the best in the modern era during his time with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Spending around £130 million on Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy this summer at Manchester City, it’s clear that Guardiola sees the full-backs as a vital part of his attacking set up. He demands the best and is willing to pay whatever it takes to get them.
Reports in The Mail, then, that City have scouted Augsburg’s Philipp Max should leave no one in any doubts about his ability. The 24-year-old left-back has been the best in the Bundesliga this season and produced his ninth assist of the season in front of City’s representatives in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Freiburg.
No one in Germany’s top flight has set up as many goals this season. And, with only half of the campaign gone, Max has already shattered Augsburg’s club-record for the most number of assists in an entire season.
So if Everton fans were wondering why their club suddenly held an interest in a player who was a relative unknown until a few months ago, per The Mail, news of Guardiola’s admiration makes it clear just how talented this German starlet is.
Everton need a long-term successor to the currently crocked Leighton Baines and Max, a set piece specialist with a wonderful cross, is certainly cut from the same cloth. Though with City joining Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United in the chase, Everton may be up against it in January.
But if it’s first-team football Max wants, Goodison Park could be the ideal destination.
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