Why everyone wants David Raum

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and a number of other clubs are seemingly desperate to sign the Hoffenheim wing-back. So what's all the fuss about?

André Breitenreiter was in no mood to dance to the same merry tune that most football managers click their heels to during the summer transfer window. Unlike most of his peers in the Bundesliga, Breitenreiter had been in the job less than two months and wasn’t prepared to consider the idea of selling one of his best players without applying some pressure to his superiors in the form of immediate compensation. 

"If you give away the best player, we will certainly look to get a player for this position," declared the 48-year-old coach in an interview with Kicker. "I firmly assume that we will bring in a replacement if the best player leaves. Whether he can then be of equal value with this quality, that's not really the question." If it wasn’t already abundantly clear: the new Hoffenheim head coach wasn’t willing to sell without finding a replacement first. 

As understandable a position as that may be, in this instance Breitenreiter was perhaps being a tad optimistic. The player in question was none other than wing-back David Raum, who has been linked with moves to Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and a number of Premier League clubs. And in more ways than one, he’s quite remarkable. Allow me to explain why.