Jamie Leweling: Germany star improves Liverpool - Value Adder

Liverpool are linked with a last-gasp move for Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling. The Germany star improves the Reds.

It seems Liverpool might be in the market for Jamie Leweling. The Stuttgart winger is heavily linked with a move to end the window - AS Roma have seen a bid rejected of €5m for an initial loan and €40m as an obligation to buy.

That's according to journalist Patrick Berger, who claims Liverpool are also in the mix here. Everton and Inter join them in that.

It's one that's come out of nowhere, essentially, but maybe that's the biggest surprise here. Leweling is, after all, one of the most valuable right-wingers in the top five leagues.

That's according to our Value Adder model, which estimates Leweling at around 3.68 points of value to Stuttgart last season. Now, obviously that doesn't sound like much but a player who improves the team's final by that much isn't easy to find.

We have Leweling as the 15th most-valuable right-winger across the top five leagues last season. When shopping in Liverpool's preferred market of 25-and-under, he's 8th.

Though, there is a sizeable gap between Leweling and the absolute best in his position (Michael Olise, for instance, was worth around 9.81 points).

Based purely on attacking output, we'd put Leweling 9th for right-wingers under 30 and ultimately, that's good enough for what Liverpool need right now. There's no question he'd improve them and they could extract similar value from him.

One look at how Leweling drives his value makes that clear. He's not a player who operates as the focus of an attack, nor do Stuttgart run everything through him.

Instead, Leweling is a very solid creative player who operates in a high-possession team. That latter point is vital for Liverpool, who need players with the know-how against low blocks.

The above scatter plot shows off why Liverpool will see value here. Leweling creates big chances at a higher rate than most, sitting in top 10 per cent of right-wingers across the top five leagues.

The fact he does that with relatively limited space, given Stuttgart's possession, is a massive, massive plus. As is Leweling offering up above-average numbers for long balls, through balls and crosses.

The 25-year-old can be a supplemental part of an attack. A player you plug in to create chances for others and Liverpool would adore the nine assists he provided last season.

Indeed, the only right wingers who supplied more were Olise, Lamine Yamal and Jarrod Bowen.

So no, Leweling would not be a superstar who transforms the team. He would, however, be a great addition to the team and one who undoubtedly improves Liverpool and their creativity.

Ultimately, with Bradley Barcola taking the superstar role on the left, that's what Liverpool need.