Martin Hinteregger’s Bundesliga form for Eintracht Frankfurt has apparently caught the eye of Premier League duo Arsenal and West Ham United.
Arsenal are hoping to reinforce their ailing back line with Augsburg centre-back Martin Hinteregger in the January transfer window, according to the Sun (7 November, page 58), with West Ham United also interested.
The Gunners have won just one of their last six games in all competitions and threw away two Europa League points on Wednesday when Bruno Duarte’s bicycle kick somehow evaded a number of bodies on the line in the 91st minute.
In truth, Arsenal should have conceded at least one or two goals well before stoppage time with Vitoria peppering Emi Martinez’s goal during an abysmal performance which cast further doubt on Unai Emery’s future in the Gunners’ dugout.
The addition of Hinteregger, however, could add some stability to a vulnerable defence, even if he isn’t exactly viewed as one of the very best in the Bundesliga.
The Austrian international joined Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer and Adi Hutter’s side would demand £20 million from any club looking to sign him in January. Arsenal’s apparent interest is a little odd, however, given that Hinteregger looked all at sea during Frankfurt’s 3-0 home defeat against the Gunners in the Europa League back in September.
The Sun adds that West Ham United, who have a real problem at defending set pieces and continue to slide down the Premier League table, are also keen on Hinteregger.
Hinteregger has an excellent goal-scoring record for a centre-half, netting three times in nine Bundesliga games this season with his latest a clever header in Frankfurt’s 5-1 thrashing of Bayern Munich on Saturday – a result which cost Niko Kovac his job at the Allianz Arena.
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