Every week Comunio and sport.de present you a Bundesliga player who is still under the radar and from whom a significant increase in market value can be expected shortly – today with Unioner Paul Jaeckel.
The current Comunio stats
Market value: 1,560,000
Points: 26th
Points per game: 2.36
That is why Jaeckel is underestimated
Paul Jaeckel is now one of six central defenders at 1. FC Union Berlin and compared to Robin Knoche, Timo Baumgartl, Marvin Friedrich, Dominique Heintz and Rick van Drongelen, he has the least experience in professional football and – you will certainly not kick him near – the smallest name. Yet!
While the three-man chain with long-time favorites Knoche, Friedrich and Baumgartl had initially got stuck at Union this season, Jaeckel appeared as the first representative if one of this trio had failed. So he came on ten missions until the winter break and had at least left Rick van Drongelen behind in the hierarchy.
That is what makes Jaeckel so strong
Perhaps many did not notice it in the hectic English week before Christmas, but since the 15th matchday Jaeckel has earned a regular place at Union and has now passed Timo Baumgartl. Jaeckel has scored an incredible 16 points in these last four games.
It is not even the duel that sets the 23-year-old apart. Here he even had below average values against Bochum and Freiburg shortly before Christmas. Rather, the U21 European champion knows how to nip the opponent’s attacks in the bud. Intercepted balls, cleared situations and blocked shots: this is what Jaeckel currently excels at and precisely those attributes are rewarded with a good sofa score for defensive players. In the last three games he has always had three ball conquests and more. With this cut he would be top of the league in the long run.
Against Leverkusen, however, he was able to demonstrate a very good duel lead on the 18th matchday last. Of his 22 duels, he won a strong 67 percent. Even with this value, he would be permanently among the best in the Bundesliga. In any case, it is becoming apparent that Jaeckel is fighting significantly more duels than his neighbors Knoche and Friedrich, i.e. the one who defends the front in the chain of three. This ensures a high number of duels and if the odds are also right, then four points or more are possible in almost every game.
Jaeckel has this potential
Of course, the competitive situation at Union remains high. But newcomer Dominique Heintz, as a left-footer, is unlikely to be a direct competitor for Jaeckel, who is currently defending the right in the back three. And as long as Jaeckel confirms these achievements, there is no reason for Urs Fischer to rely on Timo Baumgartl again.
Jaeckel is already a huge talent, whose career has been steadily increasing so far. Via the U19s at VfL Wolfsburg and the U23s, he has developed into a top central defender in the 2nd Bundesliga via the reserve at SpVgg Greuther Fürth and has now made the leap to the top floor of German football. Since the U18 he has always been a regular in the DFB’s national U-teams. If this continues, Jaeckel will no longer give up his status. And at his age there is still a lot of potential for development upwards. An absolute hammer for 1.5 million!
Karol Herrmann
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