David Raum says his role under Martín Demichelis can be “very, very fun”, and he believes he can add “a few more goals and assists” from left-back. Christopher Nkunku has also returned to RB Leipzig on loan from AC Milan, giving the club another proven attacker as they try to squeeze more out of the team.
Raum's role under Demichelis
Raum’s comments point to a wider shift in how Leipzig want to use him. Speaking to bundesliga.com, he said: “I can always push forward, get involved. My role under Micho is one that can be very, very fun and where – I don't want to promise too much now – I can add a few more goals and assists,”
That fits the direction of the side they are trying to build. If Raum is stepping higher and getting into more attacking moments, Leipzig are asking for more output from wide areas, not just safety in possession.
Nkunku's return and Leipzig's injury list
Nkunku’s return is the bigger football story, though. He finished joint-top scorer in the league with 16 strikes in his final Leipzig campaign, and his full record for the club stands at 70 goals and 56 assists in 172 appearances overall. That is the kind of output Leipzig have not had many chances to replace cleanly.
The club also have bodies missing. Christoph Baumgartner, Rômulo and Ouédraogo are currently out injured, while Xavi Simons and Yan Diomande have left in the past 20 months. On top of that, bundesliga.com’s preview voice said of Nkunku: “If he can rediscover his best form, Leipzig are in for a real treat.”
Leipzig finished third in 2025/26, with a 20 wins, 5 draws and 9 losses league record, so this is not a rebuilding job from scratch. The start they have made already sets a strong base, but the attack looks thinner than it should be unless Nkunku and Raum both deliver quickly.
The question for Leipzig is not whether they have talent. They do. It is whether Demichelis can get enough end product out of a side that has already lost some attacking depth and is still carrying injuries.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
