Werder Bremen's Nuri Sahin level with Kevin De Bruyne on a Europe-leading 16 key passes
If you thought Kevin De Bruyne was without equal as the best passer of a ball in Europe's top five leagues think again because the Manchester City man has company in the form of Werder Bremen's Nuri Sahin.
Sahin has rediscovered his string-pulling best form in the early part of 2019/20 - so much so that he shares the lead with De Bruyne for most 'key passes' across Europe's foremost divisions, according to WhoScored.
But what is a 'key pass'?
It's the final pass leading to the recipient of the ball shooting, regardless of the outcome of the effort on goal.
So is Sahin Europe's best passer?
His flighted assist over the top of the Augsburg defence for Josh Sargent Bundesliga Matchday 3 would suggest he's right up there.
Watch: Josh Sargent applied an audacious finish to Nuri Sahin's exquisite pass
Sahin trails De Bruyne for direct assists (two to the Belgian's five) - albeit having played one league game less - but the Turkey international trumps the former Bremen and Wolfsburg man for average passes per game (67; 48.8) and pass completion (84.6 per cent; 82.6 per cent).
More importantly, putting a raft of injury setbacks behind him, the 31-year-old Sahin has already produced one more assist in three league games this term than he managed in 20 last season.
After returning to the Bundesliga in 2012/13 following stints with Liverpool and Real Madrid, he maxed out at three in three of his previous six campaigns - but on current form you wouldn't bet against the Werder synergist emulating his title-inspiring exploits of 2010/11.
Sahin's tally of six goals and eight assists in 30 Bundesliga games helped propel Jürgen Klopp's BVB to the Meisterschale, and remains a career best single-season haul for the 51-time Turkey international.
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A veritable boon for Werder coach Florian Kohfeldt, Sahin's renaissance is also translating into BIG points in the Fantasy Bundesliga world.
Sahin ranks joint-third among Fantasy midfielders after three rounds of fixtures on 38 points. Twenty have come by way of passes to a shot, while eight of his total haul are for direct assists.
Yet he will still only set you back 6.9M - significantly less than the other four members of the top five: Marco Reus (16.7M, 35pts), Filip Kostic (13.8M, 38 pts), Jadon Sancho (17.1M, 49pts) and Marcel Sabitzer (12.7M, 50pts).
If real coaches in need of a deep-lying pass master are lamenting the 2 September closure of the summer 2019 transfer window, their Fantasy equivalents - i.e. YOU - don't have to!
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