Joe Scally: Fulham and a host of other English clubs chase Gladbach defender

A race is underway for the signature of Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Joe Scally, with Fulham among a host of English clubs interested in the young defender.

Per Tom Bogert, Fulham are keeping an eye on the 20-year-old right-back ahead of the summer transfer window opening in July.

Scally has been playing in the Bundesliga for the last two seasons after he left NYCFC for Gladbach, where he has amassed a total of 53 appearances. Fulham are sure to be keen on Scally having sent Kevin Mbabu on loan to Servette in January, a mere six months after signing the ex-Wolfsburg defender.

This has left head coach Marco Silva short of options at right-back outside of first-choice option Kenny Tete. The Dutchman's current contract will run out in 2024, so Scally would serve as long-term security at Fulham should an extension be hard to come by for Tete.

So how has the USMNT international graded for Gladbach so far this season?

Passing

Passing grade: 67.6 (position rank: 22nd/82)

Scally, capped four times by USA, holds the sixth-best true pass completion rate among all Bundesliga full-backs at 81% (min. 1,400 minutes played), this good level of accuracy has been middled out by a general lack of progressive passing to earn a 67.6 pass grade.

The New York native has completed 2.3 line-breaking passes per-90, the 12th-ranked rate among full-backs in the metric where BVB's Raphaël Guerreiro leads the way on 4.6.

Challenges

Challenge grade: 70.1 (26th/83)

This season has seen Scally improve upon his 2021-22 grade of 65.2 to jump to 70.1. Aerial duels and defending dribbles are both areas where Scally excels with 60% and 54% win rates, respectively.

However, there is much more to be desired on tackle events where Scally has won just 29%. Only Leipzig's Hugo Novoa has faltered more in this facet at the position with a percentage of 21%.

Challenges has been an area where Kenny Tete has been strong for Fulham this season, having earned a 78.8 grade which ranks third among all Premier League full-backs.

Ball carry

Ball carrying grade: 73.3 (11th/81)

Analysing Scally's ability with the ball in terms of carries, dribbles, and tackle resistance results in a good grade of 73.3.

Again, this is an improvement on his 2021-22 grade of 62.7 as he grows into Gladbach's team despite another underwhelming campaign where they lie 10th in the standings, the same position they finished last season.

Scally has been more efficient in dribbling success after seeing his attempts per-90 rate drop from 1.2 to 0.9 season-on-season, taking his win rate from 39% to 60%.