Why Does Everyone Want Dominik Szoboszlai?

Whether it is Liverpool or Newcastle United. Dominik Szoboszlai is in demand. But what does the Hungarian want? “I am in a good position,” Szoboszlai said in the interview with the Hungarian outlet Index in the days leading up to the DFB Pokal final in Berlin. “I don’t want to look back in 15 years and realize that I haven’t made the most with my career.”

In other words, Szoboszlai himself feels ready to leave RB Leipzig and start a new chapter in his career. Even if Leipzig will do everything in their power to slow down an eventual transfer to the Premier League.

Leipzig head coach Marco Rose, in fact, categorically denied any rumors about Szoboszlai going to leave the club ahead of the DFB Pokal final in Berlin. “I think it is a great signal that Dani Olmo has signed a new contract,” Rose said at the press conference when asked ahead of the DFB Pokal, clearly deflecting to more positive news.

Rose also then went ahead to deny any suggestions that he would leave out the Hungarian from playing the final in Berlin. “We are in good form,” Rose said. “[Dominik Szoboszlai] is in good form. There was no conversation between me and the player because we didn’t have anything to talk about.”

Szoboszlai would underline his coach’s comments by playing a fantastic game for Leipzig in that final against Eintracht Frankfurt. The 22-year-old Hungarian national team player was among Leipzig’s best players in the final, scoring the goal that made it 2-0 and secured his club back-to-back DFB Pokal titles.

Predominantly playing as a right attacking midfielder in that game, according to Wyscout, Szoboszlai completed 55% of his actions against Frankfurt. The 22-year-old completed 83% of his 38 passes, won 28% of his duels, had five interceptions, and made seven recoveries, three of them in the opponent’s half.

Impressive stats in a title-winning game. Over the entire season, Szoboszlai scored ten goals and 13 assists in 46 games. The Hungarian also ranked 28th in the Bundesliga with 0.73 key passes per 90 minutes and 19th with 40.91% accurate smart passes. Szoboszlai also has a fantastic shot and led all Bundesliga players with 40 shots from outside the box last season.

All those attributes have not been lost on Premier League clubs. In fact, Newcastle United, in particular, has been interested in Szoboszlai since the second half of the 2022/23 season went underway after the World Cup break.

It now appears that Liverpool has joined the race. But the major problem for both clubs has been the price asked by Leipzig. The Red Bulls, after all, already have lost Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea in a deal worth €60 million ($65 million). Furthermore, Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol is increasingly linked with a move to Man City that is likely to exceed $110 million.

In other words, with a potential $175 million earned on the transfer market already, Leipzig can be relaxed about other clubs bidding for Szoboszlai. Does that mean that Newcastle or Liverpool is without a chance to sign the Hungarian this summer? Not so fast.

Leipzig will know Szoboszlai wants to move on, and this might be the perfect time to cash in, especially with two Premier League teams competing for his signature, which will drive up the price. And that price appears to be non-negotiable. Leipzig will want the full €70 million ($77 million).

That’s potentially bad news for Liverpool fans out there that have already bought a shirt with Szoboszlai’s name on it. But there are also positive signals. With Dani Olmo signed to an extension, and Christoph Baumgartner confirmed to arrive, Leipzig has some alternatives ready. Plus, the additional money would go a long way to strengthen the squad further and help Red Bull’s ambitions to bring a German championship to Leipzig.

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