Why it is not surprising that Borussia Dortmund, West Ham and other clubs are after OH Leuven’s Ezechiel Banzuzi | OneFootball

OH Leuven’s Ezechiel Banzuzi looks set to leave the Belgian Pro League this summer. The 20-year-old central midfielder attracted interest from West Ham in January and is now said to be on the radar of Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. For those who have watched plenty of the player this season, that is not surprising. For OH Leuven, they are set to make a tidy profit on a player that cost them just over €1m from NAC Breda in 2023.

While last season the midfielder showed signs of his talent, he has really come on this campaign. With three goals and five assists he has become integral for an OHL side that struggle to score goals. Yet, while his numbers in attack are decent, his defensive output passes the eye test and looks good on paper. He wins well over half of his duels on the ground, with a 60% success rate in the air. He is amongst the highest in the Pro League for aerial duels won amongst central midfielders. According to FotMob’s player traits data, he wins more aerial duels than 89% of comparable players in the league. He also attempts more shots (79%) and completes more defensive actions (86%) than the majority of his compatriots.

Beyond the data, it is clear how talented the young Dutch midfielder is just by watching him play. His size gives him presence in midfield and his ability to play box to box is a great asset. Given his age, there is little surprise that top clubs are after Banzuzi, and that OHL are looking to reach a deal that is around the €15m mark.

The chances of Banzuzi still being in the Pro League next season are virtually nil. OHL would be wise to reinvest the money they recoup to strengthen the squad so that Chris Coleman can ensure they are not in and around the relegation fight next campaign.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson