Man Utd eye Elche’s interception king: Who is David Affengruber, the Austrian centre-back rising in La Liga?

Affengruber's first season in La Liga has seen him excel on multiple metrics for a modern centre-back.

Alongside his high number of interceptions, the Austrian features among Spanish football's top performers for defensive contributions, tackles, recoveries, successful passes, and successful dribbles.

No player who has featured exclusively at centre-back can top his interception numbers, while Affengrube ranks in the top 10% of La Liga defenders for the aforementioned metrics.

He's in the top percent for duels won and, despite standing at only 6ft 1, scores well in both aerial and ground contests. He wins around 64% of his duels in both categories.

Can Affengruber's numbers translate to the Premier League?

Affengruber's data has attracted notable interest, particularly given that his contract will enter its final 12 months in the summer. However, it's a deal that represents risk.

Firstly, the sample size is small. At 25, Affengruber is playing his first-ever season of top-five league football, in a side set-up to emphasise his strengths. Elche had often opted for a back-three system with Affengruber the central piece, a formation which provides better protection and more freedom to step out with confidence.

While Affengruber's numbers for progressive carries and dribbles are impressive, his distribution from deep requires improvement. He ranks only in the 47th percentile for forward pass completion when ranked against defenders in Europe's top leagues. Among La Liga defenders, his 36.7% long ball completion puts him in the bottom 21 percent of centre-backs.

David Affengruber - the verdict

Affengruber's emergence has made him an interesting option for sides seeking to strengthen their centre-back stocks. Available for around €30m (£25.9m), that fee could drop further if Elche are relegated. The Spanish side are two points above La Liga's relegation places with two games to go.

There's certainly a lot to like, and the fundamentals are there to excel in England. After winning his first cap for Austria earlier this year, he will have his credentials put under the microscope at this summer's World Cup on the biggest stage.