Leeds United are reportedly in talks with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a permanent deal for defender Rasmus Kristensen, according to German publication Bild.
Kristensen is currently on loan at Eintracht for the season, and the club seem keen to convert his temporary stay into a permanent one. Kristensen has found himself being a regular fixture in Frankfurt’s defence over a strong season for the side. They currently sit third in the Bundesliga and are through to the last 16 of the Europa League, so have plenty to play for.
Dino Toppmoller’s side do have a buy option in the loan deal, believed to be around the £12.5 million mark. Despite this, Frankfurt are keen to do a deal for cheaper, and are hoping to sign the Dane for around £5 million instead. It’s unclear whether this will be accepted, but Kristensen is reportedly keen to join the club permanently.
Leeds bought 27-year-old Kristensen for around £10 million in 2022, so if a deal was agreed it would be at a significant financial loss for the Championship side. Despite his quality elsewhere, the Denmark international has struggled at Elland Road, resulting in a number of loans away. As well as Frankfurt, he spent last season on loan at Roma, after Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in his debut season.
Despite the interest, Kristensen does have two years left on his deal, so Leeds may want to gain a higher fee from a sale. It’s difficult, however, to see him playing in Yorkshire next season.
Writer’s View
This would be a sensible move for Kristensen but the fee is not realistic. With two years left on his deal, Leeds aren’t going to sell him for a loss; they will likely wait for the buy option to be triggered or sell him elsewhere. There will be plenty of interest as Kristensen is in great form and Leeds will want his wages off the books. Eintracht Frankfurt will likely provide European football, so it’s easy to see why Kristensen would want the move.
