Eintracht Frankfurt needs reinforcements for the storm in winter. Younes Ebnoutalib from SV Elversberg is a candidate. Does Eintracht have to take it?
Frankfurt – According to the online portal transfermarkt.de, Younes Ebnoutalib’s market value has climbed from 1.5 to six million euros. The 22-year-old leads the top scorer list in the second division with Isaac Lidberg from Darmstadt 98, he pushes the ball over the line every 106 minutes. It’s not for nothing that everyone is now looking at the striker, who has already scored eleven goals.
The stands in Elversberg are regularly full of scouts. Manager Nils Ole Book said on November 29th Absolutely footballthe football portal from Home of Sports: “We are very happy about a very good player who belongs to us. Younes scores regularly. He has enormous development potential. But he is just getting started now.”
The transfer of Ebnoutalib would be quite emotional for Eintracht
These sentences alone suggest that the attacker must receive a little more than the eight million euros traded up to this point. Eintracht Frankfurt has long been associated with the striker, who is tied to the SVE until 2028. The club has said that it is not yet as concrete as is reported in the media.
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However, the poker for one of the hottest second division stocks is already in full swing. Elversberg will most likely demand at least ten million euros in the end. Looking at the recent past, this is a fair market price. Second division attackers like Stefanos Tzimas (26 million euros), Ibrahim Maza (twelve million euros) and Can Uzun (eleven million) each cost double-digit millions.
Ebnoutalib would now be in the “bargain” category. It’s probably only a matter of time before the market value increases. Of course the jump from the second to the first Bundesliga is a big one. However, Ebnoutalib has the potential to be an immediate reinforcement as he is in top shape and is therefore in rhythm As a native of Frankfurt, I also know the city.
This story stirs emotions and could prove to be a bargaining chip in negotiations. From Eintracht’s point of view, one thing is clear: they have to take action for the attack. Jonathan Burkardt is in danger of being out for a longer period of time, Elye Wahi and Jessic Ngankam no longer play a serious role in the plans and whether Alexander Staff from his own youth is advanced enough remains to be seen.
However, winter transfers are often associated with a high level of risk. Either you get (sometimes ailing) players off the benches of larger clubs or you invest a little more money and get potential emergency aid. Ebnoutalib would be the second category. A club then has to pay above market value for this.
However, as Book correctly recognized, Ebnoutalib is just getting started. The quick adaptation after the jump from the regional league to the second league shows its character. He seems mentally strong and focused. Ebnoutalib is a dynamic, athletic attacker, he doesn’t waste time in front of the goal and quickly looks for the finish.
There is a need for improvement in the exploitation of opportunities. He needed an xG value of 10.11 for his eleven goals. This means: He converts his chances slightly above average. For comparison: Jonathan Burkardt scored eight goals with an xG value of 6.03, former Eintracht star Hugo Ekitiké scored seven goals at Liverpool FC with an xG value of 4.24.
Eintracht coach Toppmöller could still grind Ebnoutalib
These are the parameters that Ebnoutalib needs to work on. Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller has shown that he can significantly improve attackers. Omar Marmoush and Ekitiké, who together brought the club around 170 million euros, are prime examples. It would be premature to burden Ebnoutalib with these expectations. But he has what it takes to take the next step on the career ladder.
However, a transfer will not be a sure-fire success. Various clubs from England, Spain, Italy and Germany have put out feelers for the great talent. Accurate strikers are wanted across Europe. But Eintracht can promote themselves with good examples; they have brought many young footballers forward enormously.
Eintracht is faced with a fundamental decision: invest ten million now or pay twice as much in the summer. At Ebnoutalib’s rate of development, the winter window could be the last chance for a real bargain.
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