Eintracht Frankfurt have confirmed that Evan Ndicka will be leaving the Bundesliga outfit on a free transfer with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool reportedly keen to lure the defender to the Premier League.
Only a couple of weeks ago, reports emerged suggesting that Evan Ndicka could sign a new deal at the Commerzbank Arena. Unfortunately for Frankfurt, such claims proved to be wide of the mark.
If this week wasn’t disappointing enough already – Oliver Glasner bowing out with a 2-0 DFB Pokal final defeat to RB Leipzig – Die Adler have now confirmed that their Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur-linked centre-half is heading out the door for nothing, his contract expiring in just three weeks’ time.
“We would have liked to have seen Evan (stay) at Eintracht Frankfurt. So it’s a shame that he’s leaving us,” sighs sporting director Markus Krosche. “We’d like to thank Evan for our five years together, in which he played as a starter.
“He has played his part in the sporting success and positive development of Eintracht Frankfurt. We wish him all the best for his future.”
Will Liverpool or Tottenham land Evan Ndicka?
Where that ‘future’ takes Ndicka, only time will tell.
Tottenham and Liverpool are among his many admirers; The Mirror claiming that Jurgen Klopp’s side have been watching the elegant 23-year-old since he was a teenager making his name back home at Auxerre.
Liverpool are in the market for a new centre-half, Joel Matip now the wrong side of 30 and Joe Gomez failing to live up to his early promise. Micky Van de Ven – a player new Anfield chief Jorg Schmadtke knows from his time at Wolfsburg – appears to be emerging as a leading candidate alongside Ajax’s Jurrien Timber.
Tottenham, meanwhile, appointed Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach this week and therefore may be expected to bring in a more cultured, ball-playing centre-half better suited to the Australian’s purist principles.
Ndicka, a left-footer, would be an upgrade on Ben Davies and a sound replacement for Clement Lenglet. Spurs are yet to decide whether or not to turn his loan deal from Barcelona into a permanent transfer.
Danny Murphy, a former Spurs midfielder, believes a highly-experienced England international could rebuild his reputation under the former Celtic boss.
“Harry Maguire is better than what they’ve got,” Murphy tells talkSPORT (7 June, 11am). “He is experienced, he’s got a physical presence.
“He’s not better than (Cristian) Romero. Romero is the best one (at Spurs). But you’ve got Dier, Sanchez, Davies; he plays ahead of them.
“I like that deal.”
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