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David Affengruber's 82-touch display vs Aston Villa proves he may not be at Fulham long - verdict
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- David Affengruber's 82-touch display vs Aston Villa proves he may not be at Fulham long - verdict
David Affengruber has been a positive surprise for Fulham this season.
The Austrian defender arrived from La Liga, with manager Alvaro Arbeloa clearly knowing what he would bring.
So far, the qualities of a Spanish top-flight centre-back have been clear to see, with Affenburger confident on the ball.
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However, his defensive abilities have also translated to the Premier League, providing an excellent mix of physicality and technical qualities.
Against Aston Villa, the 25-year-old was once again in top form, showing why the Cottagers signed him in the summer.
But that level of performance could end up putting his Fulham stint to a close as quickly as it has started.
David Affengruber is becoming indispensable to Fulham
Affengruber has quickly established himself as a key figure in Fulham's system.
On Saturday evening, the Fulham centre-back was an important cog in the Cottagers' possession.
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He got on the ball more than anyone else, with the joint-most touches of 82 in the game as per FotMob .
With his passing, he completed 92 per cent of those, with four out of five long balls completed as well.
In terms of defending, he was incredibly active, showcasing that brutishness of English football.
He made 11 clearances, made five interceptions and completed five recoveries throughout the 90 minutes as well.
In his duels, he won five out of eight of his battles and has been key to the London outfit's recent form.
Arbeloa's side have picked up seven out of a possible nine points in the last three games, and there is no doubt that Affengruber is a core component of the Spaniard's tactics.
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Fulham tipped to sack Alvaro Arbeloa - and this is when Fulham could make a hefty profit on Affengruber
With his performances showing that he can play both sides of the defensive coin - a ball-playing and defensively physical centre-back - he will not be short of suitors.
Despite only signing in the last window, that has not stopped teams in the past from looking to take stars away from clubs.
Whether it is in January or next summer, with the way Affengruber is playing, you can expect plenty of interest in him to emerge.
After all, he is only 25 years old, an excellent age for a team to scoop up an experienced but still youthful central defender.
Fulham only signed him for £10million, and they can likely request much more now.
