Eintracht Frankfurt is good for a surprise – on the last day of the respective transfer window. In the past, the Hessians had come up with one or the other coup on the player market at the last minute. In the summer of 2017, Ante Rebic returned from AC Fiorentina to the Main in a final spurt. Two years later, just before the deadline, the Croatia international decided to continue his career at AC Milan. In return, the Portuguese André Silva found his way to Eintracht from the Italians. This working relationship, which ended in the summer of 2021 with the goalscorer’s departure to RB Leipzig, was a complete success for both sides. On August 31 of last year, Eintracht announced the signing of striker Sam Lammers from Atalanta Bergamo in the transfer final. And this time?
On Monday, the last day of change this winter, the Frankfurt news ticker rested on the homepage. There was no personal bang in the football interplay that was only lively in other places. However, according to this newspaper, French striker Randal Kolo Muani from Premier League club FC Nantes was in Frankfurt for a medical check-up. The 23-year-old has signed a contract with Eintracht until July 1, 2027. However, the collaboration will only begin next season, when Kolo Muani will be free. He has scored eight goals and three assists in 21 league games in France this season.
Frankfurt offers rejected
As for midfielder Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe, according to French media reports, Paris St. Germain are said to have rejected an offer from Frankfurt for the Frenchman. In addition, the 29-year-old Argentinian Lucas Alario, in whom Eintracht had also shown interest, was not released by Bayer Leverkusen. Ansgar Knauff, whom the Frankfurters have loaned out from Borussia Dortmund until July 1, 2023, is the only winter reinforcement for the squad. However, the 20-year-old falls into the perspective player category. The two professionals Faride Alidou (winger, HSV) and Hrvoje Smolcic (central defender, HNK Rijeka) are still dreams of the future. Like Kolo Muani, they will reinforce unity in the new season.
There was also no hustle and bustle in Frankfurt on the last day of January with regard to possible departures – although Eintracht would probably have wished for that in one case or another. But there were no buyers for professionals like Erik Durm, Stefan Ilsanker or Almamy Touré. Or the players were not interested in changing employers – perhaps also for financial reasons. Because they should all have well-paid contracts that they had received before the corona pandemic. If they had changed clubs, they would probably have had to accept economic losses, which should not have encouraged their willingness to change.
Some departures would have relieved the Frankfurt salary budget. In addition, Eintracht would have had some leeway for new signings, if desired. In any case, Durm (contract until July 1, 2023), Ilsanker (July 1, 2022) and Touré (July 1, 2023) are three players who currently do not play a significant role in head coach Oliver Glasner’s personnel planning. And it should stay that way with Durm and Ilsanker. Touré had recently had one or the other test, but he was never able to use it due to lack of concentration.
Aymen Barkok was probably the closest to a change of club. League rivals Mainz 05 would obviously have preferred to sign the Moroccan international immediately. The player and Mainz have already agreed on a change after this Bundesliga season – when Barkok’s contract in Frankfurt expired. Now the Rheinhessen were probably not ready to pay a transfer fee for Barkok.
Danny da Costa also had thoughts of a change. Hertha BSC Berlin is dealing with a commitment from the 28-year-old right-back, whose professional prospects are also limited when the contract ends on July 1, 2022 in Main. But even in his case, the parties involved did not find a common solution. Fredi Bobic, who was previously the sports director at Eintracht Frankfurt, spoke for Hertha. In this role, he helped shape da Costa’s contract extension in the winter of 2018 until July 1 of this year. Now the cooperation between da Costa and Eintracht is likely to end in the summer.
