Younes Ebnoutalib faces an uncertain future at Eintracht Frankfurt as a potential January move for Arnaud Kalimuendo threatens his playing time. The 23-year-old striker has scored six goals in nine Bundesliga appearances this season, making him the team's top scorer for a side sitting tenth in the table with 12 points. The team has three wins, three draws, and three losses from nine games and trails leaders Bayern München by nine points.
Manager Adi Hütter has praised his forwards' qualities. "I have called them real goal-getters and praised their numbers," Hütter said of Ebnoutalib and Jonathan Burkardt. The pair have combined for 17 of Eintracht's 29 goals this season. Ebnoutalib, who joined from Elversberg in January, strongly identifies with the club and is a key factor in shirt sales.
Kalimuendo as competition
However, the potential return of 24-year-old Kalimuendo, who scored six goals for Frankfurt last winter and is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, could push Ebnoutalib down to third-choice striker in the 4-2-3-1 system. For his development and his prospects with the German national team under Jürgen Klopp, for whom he has already earned six caps, a reduced role would be a setback. The club has offered Ebnoutalib an improved contract, with negotiations ongoing.
Current season and outlook
Ebnoutalib's strong form was evident in the recent 3-1 home win over Hamburger SV, where he scored the third goal. The last match was a 2-2 draw at SC Paderborn, where Jonathan Burkardt scored both Frankfurt goals. The team's recent form across the last five matches reads three wins, one draw, and one loss, with further victories over Hamburger SV and 1. FC Köln, but also a defeat in Dortmund and a heavy loss in Leipzig. The next challenge is the home fixture against 9th-placed 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday 21 November, a game that could see them climb the standings. The team has won three of its last five matches. Ebnoutalib himself prefers to stay in the Bundesliga over a move to England, despite links with Juventus, Torino and Tottenham Hotspur. The decision on Kalimuendo will be made in January.
This story first appeared at fussball-news.de
