RB Leipzig Find Konrad Laimer Replacement In Salzburg

RB Leipzig has completed its 20th transfer from sister club Red Bull Salzburg. On Sunday, both clubs announced that Nicolas Seiwald will leave the Austrian Red Bulls to head to the German Bundesliga this upcoming summer. According to reports out of Germany, RB Leipzig has triggered the Austrian’s exit clause and will pay €20 million ($21.1 million). The 21-year-old has signed a contract until June 30, 2028.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome Nicolas Seiwald to Leipzig this summer,” RB Leipzig’s sporting director Max Eberl said in a club statement. “Nici is a tough-tackling, box-to-box player who has undergone a tremendous development in the last few years. Despite being just 21 years old, he has already been able to amass plenty of experience at the senior level and been able to prove himself at the highest level in the Champions League.”

Seiwald, in the meantime, expressed his excitement about joining Leipzig. The 21-year-old has been a part of the Red Bull program in Salzburg for the last 13 years. “My aim is to leave Salzburg as an Austrian champion,” Seiwald said in a statement. “After that, I’m really looking forward to a new challenge at a fantastic club. It will be an important step in my career, and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Although the two clubs stress that they are separate entities, there is no doubt that there is an overlapping football philosophy in place at every club that carries the two bulls in its label. Whether it is in New York, at Bragantino, Salzburg, or Leipzig, there is a clear Red Bull football philosophy. And with that in mind, Leipzig hopes that Seiwald will hit the ground running when he arrives next season.

In fact, Seiwald will be expected to come in and replace Austrian compatriot Konrad Laimer. Laimer is expected to join Bayern Munich on a free transfer next summer. With that in mind, it is important to compare the two players and it becomes quickly apparent that while there is some statistical overlap, there is some indication that Seiwald could quickly fill the hole left by Laimer.

While Laimer leads the two with 9.22 to 6.26 defensive duels per 90 minutes, it is Seiwald, who leads with 72.12% to 60.16% defensive duels won. Seiwald also has more recoveries per 90 minutes (10.56 vs 8.24) and opponent half recoveries (4.27 vs 3.82) than Laimer.

Seiwald is also a more active and efficient passer than Laimer. Seiwald completed more passes per 90 minutes than Laimer this season (46.49 vs 35.67) with a higher pass completion (83.37% vs 79.62%).

The caveat to all this, of course, is that Seiwald is doing this with a dominant team in the Austrian Bundesliga. Furthermore, Laimer started the season with injury problems and has just hit peak form. But one also has to keep in mind that Seiwald is about four years younger than Laimer and, therefore, has a higher ceiling than his compatriot.

With all that in mind, Leipzig has once again, in theory, not just filled the void left by a top player but also improved their squad in the medium term. Whether theory will stand up to reality remains to be seen, but their setup with clubs worldwide means that they have a far higher rate than anyone else when it comes to bringing in new players.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth