Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche insists there is no chance Evan Ndicka leaves in January with Premier League leaders Arsenal big fans of the Bundesliga centre-back, speaking to Sky Germany.
With Ndicka’s contract expiring in the summer of 2023 – and with no extension agreed just yet – January represents the final chance Frankfurt have to make a decent profit on the former France U21 international.
But it seems the Europa League winners would rather lose Ndicka for free than cash in midway through a season that could still end with Champions League qualification.
“No”; that was Krosche’s bullish, one-word response when asked if the Paris-born 23-year-old, Ndicka will be sold in the winter window.
According to BILD, Frankfurt could still be tempted by a potential £12 million bid in January. Especially if the former Auxerre youngster has no intention of signing a new deal at the Commerzbank Arena.
Calciomercato believe that Juventus are watching Ndicka closely. Arsenal too.
“Arsenal like the player,” reporter Ben Jacobs tells Give Me Sport. “They’ve certainly done their legwork and their due diligence and their scouting on him. There’s a lot of interest in the player. Not just from the Premier League but from all across Europe as well.”
Left-footed centre-halves are certainly in vogue these days and Arsenal are in the market for a player capable of providing competition for Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of Mikel Arteta’s league-leading backline. Brazilian youngster Robert Renan is another on the Gunners’ radar.
Ndicka, who attracted interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur over the summer, has thrived in a back-three at Frankfurt but should have the intelligence and the guile to slot into a four-man defence at Arsenal, alongside fellow Frenchman William Saliba.
“Evan has developed phenomenally,” former Frankfurt coach Adi Hutter says of Ndicka (The Mirror). He’s very attentive in the analysis of his own game. He’s very modest and always takes a lot on board.”
