Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United missed out on a ‘world-class striker’ with ‘extraordinary ability’ when Luka Jovic re-joined Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga boss Adi Hutter told Managing Madrid.
It took the Serbian international just a few short minutes to show Zinedine Zidane what he was missing.
Coming off the bench to make his second Frankfurt debut during a 3-1 victory over Schalke, the Real Madrid loanee gave the headline-writers a rather easy day at the office during a stunning cameo display.
By scoring in the 72nd and the 91st minute, Jovic netted more league goals inside less than half an hour back at Frankfurt than he managed in 18 miserable months at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Although if you were expecting that Jovic would immediately become the King of the Commerzbank again, Andre Silva had other ideas.
The La Liga loanee is still awaiting his first start since returning to Germany, with the stunning form of Portugal hotshot Silva ensuring that Jovic is, once again, biding his time on the bench.
Yet, according to Hutter, the presence of a £52 million striker on the sidelines highlights the strength in depth at Frankfurt’s disposal.
“Luka is a world-class striker who brings extraordinary ability,” Hutter said after a seventh win in eight games lifted Frankfurt into the Champions League places.
“If we can afford to keep him and (former Bayern Munich midfielder) Sebastian Rode on the bench because the others are doing well, it shows our strength in depth.
“I have told Luka that we will know when the time is right to put him in the starting XI.”
According to BILD, Jovic rejected offers from West Ham and Wolves in favour of a return to the club where he made his name in a thrilling front three alongside Sebastien Haller and Ante Rebic.
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