Eintracht Frankfurt facing major defensive overhaul: Kristensen departure and Pimpong signing drawing closer

In Frankfurt, the Danish international made 71 competitive appearances, contributing nine goals and four assists. According to media reports, coach Adi Hütter had planned the 28-year-old as a fixed point of a team that is itself undergoing transition. Now everything points to a swift farewell: "Kristensen soll den Medizincheck bereits absolivert haben, mit einer Verkündung wird in Kürze gerechnet."

The transfer fee for the defender, who is still under contract in Frankfurt until 2029, is said by Bild-Zeitung to be around six million euros. "Die Eintracht kassiert dem Vernehmen nach 6 Mio. Euro von Midtjylland und damit genau die Summe, die im vergangenen Sommer an Leeds United gezahlt wurde." This would mean SGE would neither make a profit nor a loss on the Dane, but would gain urgently needed planning flexibility in the squad.

Pimpong as a record signing for Midtjylland

In parallel with the departure, a transfer in the opposite direction is imminent: "Im Gegenzug soll sich die SGE die Dienste von Midtjylland-Talent Pimpong gesichert haben." Malik Pimpong, born on 1 January 2008 and classified as a left winger, is a Danish youth international who has not yet featured for Midtjylland's first team. In the past season, however, he scored 24 goals in 30 appearances for the U19s.

According to a Sky report, SGE are paying a fee of up to 3 million euros including bonuses for the 18-year-old attacker. "Nur viermal zahlte die SGE mehr Geld für einen Spieler bis 18 Jahre." This makes the transfer one of the largest investments by the Frankfurt side in a player of this age group. Pimpong is set to receive a contract in Frankfurt until 2031 and is being planned as a development player for the attacking flank.

The move would also be a record for Midtjylland: "Der dänische Klub bricht damit seinen Transferrekord: Teuerster Zugang ist bisher Darío Osorio, der 2023 für 5,2 Mio. Euro vom Club Universidad de Chile kam." FC Midtjylland were Superliga runners-up last season behind Aarhus and will compete in the Europa League qualifying rounds next season. Coach Mike Tullberg looks after a squad of 28 players.

Defensive overhaul at SGE

Bild-Zeitung had already headlined the latest developments with regard to Frankfurt's defensive planning in tabloid fashion as "Transfer-Wahnsinn". The background is a larger personnel drain in the back line. "Defensive wird runderneuert. Die Eintracht steht vor einem großen Umbruch", the reports state. In addition to Kristensen, further players could leave SGE, making a comprehensive rebuild of the defence necessary.

Regarding external signings, meanwhile, the 19-year-old Victor Valdepenas, in whom there is interest, could be only the beginning for the defence. The profile of the Real Madrid Castilla player fits the course that has been set, namely signing young, developable players. Those responsible are thus reacting to the realisation that the current defensive structure offers too little depth and too little prospect across the board. "Hierarchien werden fast automatisch aufgebrochen", Bild writes.

Pimpong is regarded as a technically adept attacker, "der auch im Umschaltspiel seine Qualitäten hat". The Danish youth international has not yet featured for Midtjylland's first team, yet those responsible at Frankfurt trust him to make the step up to the professional squad. With a view to the day-to-day Bundesliga schedule, he is initially intended as an option for the second tier and for appearances in the DFB-Pokal or the Europa League.

Eintracht Frankfurt currently has a squad of 29 players, the most recently signed player being Arnaud Kalimuendo. The total market value of the team stands at 377.55 million euros. In the Bundesliga, SGE currently occupy eighth place in the table. With an eye to the coming season, everything points to a phase of personnel realignment in which young players such as Pimpong and possibly Valdepenas are set to play a key role.

Outlook on the new season

Farhat, another attacker in the Frankfurt squad, is also mentioned in the reports: "20 Einsätze, sechs Tore, zwei Vorlagen – zwischenzeitlich war Farhat wegen eines Mittelfußbruchs verletzt." His staying in Frankfurt is likewise part of the open personnel questions, as is the occupation of the full-back positions.

Overall, it is becoming clear that the Hessians are banking on a clear generational change in defence. With the imminent completion of the Kristensen-Pimpong swap deal, this overhaul would take on a first concrete shape.

Eintracht Frankfurt currently has a squad of 29 players, the most recently signed player being Arnaud Kalimuendo. The total market value of the team stands at 377.55 million euros. In the Bundesliga, SGE currently occupy eighth place in the table. With an eye to the coming season, everything points to a phase of personnel realignment in which young players such as Pimpong and possibly Valdepenas are set to play a key role. FC Midtjylland, for their part, bring a squad of 28 players under coach Mike Tullberg, whose total market value stands at 108.35 million euros and who sit second in the Superliga.