Bundesliga duo Evan Ndicka and Jesper Lindstrom should ‘think carefully’ before embarking upon a potential move to Premier League giants Arsenal, former Eintracht Frankfurt coach Dragoslav Stepanovic tells BILD.
The nature of life away the Commerzbank Arena for some of Frankfurt’s most expensive exports acts as undeniable proof that, at times, the grass is not always greener elsewhere.
Sebastien Haller and Luka Jovic, prolific goalscorers with Die Adler, found opportunities far harder to come by at West Ham United and Real Madrid. Andre Silva, meanwhile, gave up his role as Frankfurt’s leading man for a smaller part in an ensemble cast at RB Leipzig.
“It doesn’t matter where you go as a top Eintracht player. You have to fight for everything anew,” explains Stepanovic, who twice coached the Europa League holders.
“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.”
Arsenal like Eintracht Frankfurt duo Jesper Lindstrom and Evan Ndicka
Current Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner struck a similar tone when asked about Lindstrom’s future in October. The £26 million Denmark international, linked with Arsenal via BILD, risks finding himself stuck ‘on the bench’ if he makes a big-money move away from the Commerzbank Arena too early in his career.
Ndicka, an athletic, 23-year-old centre-half, is another name on Arsenal’s radar. His deal expires next summer and BILD believe the Frenchman has no interest in signing an extension.
But, as Stepanovic points out, there was only one winner when Haller and Jovic departed for a combined fee of around £100 million in the summer of 2019.
“Only Eintracht won,” he adds. “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).”
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle are reportedly keeping tabs on the £12 million-rated Ndicka. As are Jose Mourinho’s Roma, the defender entering the final months of his contract (Roma Giallorossi).
Lindstrom, meanwhile, has seven goals in 19 starts from attacking midfield this term.
“Jesper is still very young but is a huge talent,” Frankfurt team-mate Kevin Trapp tells Sky’s Bundesliga Highlights Show.
“He shows it now more often. He’s (playing at) a high level, he’s on top form. The goal he scored last week against Leverkusen was beautiful and I guess he has a lot of confidence right now.”
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