With Jack Kelly, and subsequently Florian Plettenburg, reporting that Whites hold strong interest in U21 Euro Finalist Rocco Reitz, many of the Fulham faithful have questioned who the Glabach star is. Let’s find out.
Player Comparison: Declan Rice
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Like Rice, Reitz goes from sideline to sideline, intercepting the ball and tracking back at rapid speed, often regaining possession. Thus, the German’s sky-high interception numbers.
Drawing comparison to the Arsenal man once more, Rocco partners an ability to be a true defensive breaker with a skillset that allows him to be a real difference maker in the final third – whether that be arriving late into the box, or going beyond target man, Tim Kleindienst, to create chances for himself or his teammates beyond the striker.
Add to this Reitz’s diminutive 5’9 frame, and the Borussia man’s efficient use of his low centre of gravity in possession, especially around the final third, and it’s fair to say Rocco has the profile to dominate all aspects of the midfield battle.
A Statistical Introspection
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Reitz is your prototypical box-to-box midfielder. The season before last, in 23/24, the now 23-year-old Rocco produced nine goal involvements from central midfield.
Fast forward to the season gone by, and the former Saint Truiden loanee’s goal involvements halved. However, the Duisburg-born prodigy’s defensive output skyrocketed.
In the top 95% for blocks and clearances against midfielders, whilst maintaining a position in the 99th percentile for interceptions per 90. This fluidity in playstyle shows Reitz’s midfield versatility.
Whether it be as part of a Berge-Lukic-like pivot, or as the most advanced eight as part of a midfield three, impressive take-ons and touches in the opposing penalty area, alongside his 23/24 six-goal haul, proves that Rocco can do it all.
How Would Reitz Fit Into This Fulham Team?
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A midfield pairing of Sander Berge and Rocco Reitz is something to marvel at. Not only does Reitz fit into the profile of reducing London’s Original’s hallowed average age, at just 23, but, as I’ve outlined, the Die Fohlen graduate would add a specialist, yet multi faceted profile to the Cottagers’ midfield.
Sasa Lukic proved his weight in gold last campaign – a true jack-of-all-trades – but sometimes in football, you have to be cut-throat and take up the chance of signing a potentially special talent. Lukic’s proficiency at all, yet specialisation in none, limited Berge to not offer his transitional or creative qualities in the middle of the park last term.
The addition of Rocco Reitz would lighten the Norwegian’s defensive load, permitting Reitz to showcase the defensive capabilities he put on display in Germany last season. Rocco would further give the Whites greater hold in transition, as both players have immense recovery speed, outright athleticism, and attacking ability.
The duo’s profile would likely see the Whites alter between a defensive-by-committee pivot or choosing an out-and-out six – likely decided by the physical makeup of the opposition – with the 6’5 frame of Berge preferred against more aerially vulnerable sides.
Providing Berge the defensive solidity to arrive late in the box, with his towering stature, should be a priority now July 1st is here. Rocco Reitz does that and much more.
Fulham’s Most Exciting Link This Summer: A Future Star?
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Reitz is the link that has excited me most in the early periods of this summer window. I can really see the recent Euros star as the star player the Whites are yearning for. Tony, it’s a no brainier. Get Rocco down the Cottage.