Evan Ndicka ‘can imagine staying’ at Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt despite interest from Premier League giants Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, sporting director Markus Krosche tells BILD.
Just last week, Italian publication Il Romanista claimed that Ndicka had ‘reached an agreement’ with Mikel Arteta’s league-leaders Arsenal; the Gunners seemingly fighting off competition from Newcastle, Spurs and Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
Krosche’s comments, however, seem to contradict such claims.
The £13 million-rated Ndicka is out of contract in less than 12 months’ time. But do not rule out an extension; Frankfurt refusing to accept defeat in their hopes of retaining one of Europe’s most promising young centre-halves.
“We are still in talks with him,” Krosche explains. “He can imagine staying in Frankfurt.”
Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle like Evan Ndicka of Eintracht Frankfurt
The Commerzbank Arena chief has already ruled out a January sale, telling Sky Germany recently that there is no chance of Ndicka departing in the winter. Either he signs a new deal at the Europa League winners, or he leaves for free in July.
“Arsenal like the player,” Give Me Sport Ben Jacobs says of Ndicka. “They’ve certainly done their legwork and their due diligence and their scouting on him. There’s a lot of interest in the player. Not just from the Premier League but from all across Europe as well.”
Left-footed centre-halves are certainly in vogue these days, and Arsenal are in the market for a player capable of providing competition for Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of Arteta’s title-chasing backline. Brazilian youngster Robert Renan is another on the Gunners’ radar (Goal).
‘Think carefully’
Arsenal have also shown an interest in Ndicka’s Frankfurt team-mate Jesper Lindstrom. The silky Denmark international appears to be behind the likes of Facundo Torres and Mykhaylo Mudryk on Arteta’s January wishlist, however.
And, as former Eintracht Frankfurt coach Dragoslav Stepanovic points out, the struggles of Sebastien Haller and Luka Jovic at West Ham and Real Madrid should act as a reminder that the grass is not always greener elsewhere.
“It doesn’t matter where you go. You have to fight for everything anew,” explains Stepanovic.
“A well-functioning team lifts every single player higher. That leads many to believe that they are better than they really are. Think carefully about when you’re really ready to switch to a bigger club.
“Only Eintracht won (when selling Haller and Jovic for a combined £100 million). The club sold these players at the right time when there was a lot of money (being offered for them). Two years later, many clubs would not have paid (those fees).”
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