Eintracht Frankfurt defender Robin Koch has been in such excellent form since leaving Leeds United on loan that his omission from Julian Nagelsmann’s first Germany squad is leading to a few raised eyebrows.
With Germany’s defensive deficiencies clear for all to see less than 12 months out from the European Championships on home soil – that hammering at Japan bringing about the end of the Hansi Flick era – new boss Nagelsmann could do worse than to take a closer look at a player who left Leeds United and returned to the Bundesliga over the summer.
At least, that is the view of Mario Basler, a member of Germany’s Euro 96 winning squad.
Robin Koch, Basler tells the Fuldaer Zeitung, is doing more than enough at Frankfurt to at least be considered for a first international call-up since 2021.
Leeds loanee Robin Koch tipped for Germany re-call
“I was surprised that he (Koch) wasn’t nominated for the trip to the USA,” Basler says, Germany triumphing 3-1 on American soil in mid-October. “This is a player you have to develop and take with you.
“It will be Julian (Nagelsmann’s) main task to get (the defence) under control. I would like Julian to go to Frankfurt and looks at him.”
According to Sport1, Frankfurt are already looking to make Koch’s loan deal a permanent transfer. Potentially as early as January. The former Freiburg defender, who joined Leeds during the Marcelo Bielsa era in an £11 million deal, has helped his new employers keep three Bundesliga clean sheets so far. Koch even captained Frankfurt during the 3-1 triumph over Hoffenheim last time out.
Labelled ‘outstanding’ by Die Adler coach Dino Toppmoller, Koch is not ruling out a permanent stay at the Commerzbank Arena either. In fact, it appears that he would welcome the idea.
‘We will see what happens’
“I feel very comfortable here and have thought about the decision very carefully. Before the move, I also asked some players what it was like here. So far, expectations have even been exceeded,” Koch tells Kicker.
“After the season, we will see what happens next.
“I can imagine (staying at Frankfurt) very well. I currently feel in perfect hands at Eintracht and want to achieve a lot here.”
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