SCOUT REPORT: Max Meyer – The Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur target compared to Mesut Ozil
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Schalke and Germany midfielder Max Meyer ahead of the summer transfer window. talkSPORT take a look at the playmaker compared to Mesut Ozil who could be moving to the Premier League very soon...
Key details:
Full name: Maximilian Meyer
Date of birth: 18 September 1995 (age 21)
Place of birth: Oberhausen, Germany
Height: 1.73 m
Position: Attacking midfield
Team: FC Schalke 04 (157 apps / 21 goals)
National team: Germany (4 apps / 1 goal)
Who is he?
Max Meyer is an attacking midfielder who plays for Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04 and the Germany national team. Joining Die Königsblauen’s youth setup in 2009, Meyer impressed at Under-19 level and was handed his professional debut in February 2013, creating a goal for Michel Baston that helped Schalke to a 2-2 draw. A key figure at youth level for Germany, Meyer played for the Under-15s in 2009 and appeared for every team up to the Under-21s, before making his senior debut in 2014. He scored four goals in six games on the way to winning silver at the 2016 Olympics.
He has long been admired by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool eyeing up the 21-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window.
What they say:
Former Schalke manager Roberto Di Matteo: “Meyer will play a very important role in Schalke’s future.”
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp, when trying to sign Meyer at Borussia Dortmund: “He would be a starter and captain at 90% of national teams.”
Playing style:
A technically gifted playmaker who played futsal as a youngster, Meyer has established himself as one of the best creative players in the Bundesliga over the past few seasons - although he has struggled for form this term.
Confident with both feet and with a low centre of gravity, Meyer is a fluid dribbler of the ball who can move into the tightest spaces without ceding possession, before playing a pinpoint pass to create a chance for a teammate.
An excellent decision maker, Meyer rarely wastes the ball when in the final third, being able to choose between a pass or a shot in an instant - although his shooting leaves much to be desire.
Areas to improve:
The ongoing season has been tough for Meyer, having fallen down the international pecking order and even found himself out of the Schalke team. Formation changes have not been kind to the 21-year-old, and he’s been forced to play in all manner of positions. Also, eight of his 14 league appearances have come from the bench.
There have been questions about his development, with many believing Meyer has stagnated recently. No one is sure if Meyer knows which position is his best, and his productivity in front of goal has reduced due to his utility man role.
His main weaknesses are finishing, although there has been a noticeable improvement since he made his debut, and his inability to get involved in a game when he does not have the ball. Comparisons with Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil have been made to highlight his playmaking skills, but they also seem apt here.
Video evidence:
Notable Schalke academy graduates:
Manuel Neuer
Benedikt Howedes
Julian Draxler
Mesut Ozil
Olaf Thon
Jens Lehmann
Leroy Sane