Barcelona’s desire to bolster the defensive midfield position is an open secret by now and the candidates on their wishlist continue to grow every week.
One of the latest names to have entered the Catalans’ crosshairs is Angelo Stiller, who has reportedly been recommended to the board by Hansi Flick.
Dissecting Stiller’s style
Stiller’s ability to pass under pressure is one of his best qualities. He can execute a broad variety of passes, from small, nuanced exchanges to long, diagonal switches of play, and he has outstanding vision.
With an impressive 7.35 progressive passes per 90, the 23-year-old is an important playmaker for VfB Stuttgart because of his ability to read the game and locate teammates in opportune positions.
Having emerged from Bayern Munich’s youth academy, Hansi Flick’s familiarity with the youngster explains his eagerness to sign him.
Moreover, one of Stiller’s traits that would suit the German manager well is his ability to take extra touches to create new progressive angles and bait opponents, drawing them in and away from his teammates.
Being able to create space like this will allow Flick to implement verticality and deal blows in transition.
However, defensively he averages below 2 tackles, interceptions, and blocks per 90, which is not ideal considering Barcelona will primarily need someone to shield their defense.
At the very least, though, his positional understanding is strong and he times his jumps well to regain possession. In the counter-press, he has the potential to be incredibly useful.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
With a reported figure of around €25 million, Stiller would be a cost-effective solution for the defensive midfield position.
Flick’s fondness for the player also elevates his chances of donning the Blaugrana jersey this summer. However, it is worth noting that other names such as Mikel Merino, Joshua Kimmich, and Javi Guerra continue to be watched closely as well.
