Defending has been a problem for Frankfurt in the early stages of the season, and it has been reported that they are interested in bringing in a central defender as well as a midfielder and striker in the winter window. 

Former 1.FC Köln defender Bisseck is said to be an option. Frankfurt had been interested in the 24-year-old before he moved to Inter in 2023. Die Adler have not lost contact with Bisseck and are now weighing up a move for him in the winter as the German has lost his place in the Inter 11. 

There have yet to be concrete talks over a move, and SGE are monitoring the situation before deciding to make a move for him in the winter. 

Frankfurt’s defensive problems:

Just before the international break, die Adler lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich. This means in their last four games in all competitions, they have conceded 16 goals, which is four goals per game. This type of defending is a lot closer to a relegation candidate than a team competing for European football. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan

The 24-year-old joined Frankfurt in January from Marseille for €26m as a replacement for Omar Marmoush, who joined Manchester City, but Wahi has failed to make an impact, only scoring once in the DFB Pokal earlier this season. 

There has been a turnaround in his recent performances, but a move in the winter cannot be ruled out.

Who else could leave Frankfurt? 

Wahi could not be the only departure in the winter. Michy Batshuyai is attracting interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, less than a year after joining. While Swiss defender Aurele Amenda is also a candidate to leave. 

Aurelio Buta and Mahmoud Dahoud will be able to leave Deutsche Bank Park when their contracts expire in the summer. While Mario Götze will have to take a pay cut if he wishes to stay at the club beyond the summer. 

Frankfurt’s winter plans:

The plan for Frankfurt heading into the winter window is to sign a defender, a midfielder, as well as a striker. 

Someone who could replace Wahi, if he were to leave in the winter, is Newcastle striker William Osula. Die Adler tried to sign the Dane right at the end of the summer window, but failed to reach an agreement with the Premier League side over a fee. Various reports have indicated that Frankfurt will try again in the winter. 

While in midfield, Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt is a candidate. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan

Janelt came up through the RB Leipzig academy ranks before moving to VfL Bochum in 2016. The Hamburg-native featured for the Revierklub, first on loan and then as a permanent fixture, for four seasons between 2016 and 2020. Janelt ended up making 53 2. Bundesliga appearances for Bochum before departing for the Isle in October 2020. 

Brentford purchased Janelt from Bochum for a paltry transfer fee of €600,000. Since then, the defensive midfielder/centre-back/fullback has made 139 Premier League appearances and raised his estimated market value up to €20m. SGE board-member-for-sport Markus Krösche – who once wanted to bring Janelt to SC Paderborn 07 – is said to be especially keen on the player. 

Janelt’s expiring contract means that a move on a free transfer can be negotiated as early as this January. Eintracht could also bring Janelt in for the second half of this season for a reasonable fee. Other potential targets for the midfield/defensive ranks (Raphael Onyedika (24), FC Bruges, Sergi Altimira (24) Real Betis, and Ismaël Doukouré (22), RC Strasbourg) are all likely to cost more than €20m.

Janelty made ten appearances for Germany at U21 level and was one of the players who captured the UEFA U21 European Championship under Stefan Kuntz in 2021. He never made another appearance for country again despite the fact that then German Bundestrainer Hansi Flick was thought to be interested in taking him on. 

Whether or not Janelt himself has any interest in reviving his Germany career nevertheless isn’t clear. Janelt was recently granted Bosnian citizenship in an apparently effort to represent Bosnia & Herzegovina at senior international level. The Bundesliga could still prove a useful proving ground for him should he wish to return to his native country.

GGFN | Peter Weis

Die Adler are said to value Uzun at €80m. On top of this, the 19-year-old does not have a release clause in his contract that expires in 2029, meaning Frankfurt can once again demand a high fee.

The reason Frankfurt have set a value is because clubs from the Premier League have begun to show interest in Uzun. The forward’s predecessors Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitiké both swapped the Waldstadion for the Premier League this year. 

Uzun has been a revelation this season, and it is quite clearly his breakout year. In nine games, the 19-year-old has six goals and four assists and has established himself as one of the best players on the banks of the Main. 

Do Frankfurt have a replacement lined up?

What makes SGE so good when it comes to their movement in the transfer market is that they will likely have a replacement already in their sights. Newcastle striker William Osula could be an option. Frankfurt tried to bring the Dane to the Waldstadion in the summer, but a move failed to materialise on deadline day. Sky reports that die Adler will try again. 

SGE have already reached an agreement with the striker, but they must now reach an agreement with Newcastle which demanded €30m for the 22-year-old in the summer.

GGFN | Jack Meenan

Hamburg Make Mince Meat of Mainz 

Hamburg made it back-to-back home wins as they battered Mainz 05 4-0 on Sunday afternoon. HSV were on top from the first minute and found themselves 2-0 up after just nine minutes thanks to goals from Albert Sambi Lokonga and Rayan Philippe. Philippe would add to his first goal in the second half, bringing his tally for the season to three goals from six games. The forward had a failed move to Mainz in the summer and mocked the situation with his celebration by mimicking a phone call. 

HSV head coach Merlin Polzin opted for a new 3-4-3 formation, and it worked a treat against a side that was so successful last campaign. 

“We’re progressing and one can see that in our play with the ball and against the ball. We’ve more steps to take, but one senses – and this is vitally important – that the team is finding out who they are and the connections are getting better. The players need to feel it on the pitch,” explained Polzin. 

HSV move up to 9th in the Bundesliga, whilst Mainz drop to 16th. 

Bayern Breeze Past Frankfurt

Ahead of this one, it was billed as Bayern’s first big test this season. However, when Bayern went 0-1 up after 17 seconds through Luis Díaz, it was anything but a real test. 

Bayern once again dominated and showed just how powerful their forward line is this season. Vincent Kompany’s side went 0-2 before the break through a Harry Kane curled effort from 20 meters out. If you haven’t seen the goal already, I urge you to take a look. 

Diaz added to his first-half goal late into the second half to make sure that Bayern go six wins from six games in the Bundesliga. 

“I don’t think these games should be used as a yardstick to evaluate the boys right now,” Toppmöller insisted when conducting a post-match interview with Sky Germany after the match. “It’s important for us to know that we still have a little room for improvement in order to compete at this level.”

“No one has been able to keep up with Bayern at their level thus far [this year],” Toppmöller continued, adding special praise for Harry Kane’s distance effort that made it 0-2 in the 27th minute. “That was a typical Bayern goal and Harry Kane’s finish was simply world-class.”

For Frankfurt, it’s now 12 goals conceded in four games in all competitions. There’s no question that Frankfurt have an excellent team, but right now, their defensive displays will be worrying head coach Dino Toppmöller. Bayern stay top as Frankfurt drop out of the European places for the first time this season (7th).  

Dortmund Leipzig Stalemate 

Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig played a rather dull 1-1 draw that was billed as “the battle of the Bayern chasers”. In fact, the final xG stats (Dortmund 0.88, Leipzig 1.05) illustrate that the final scoreline was even a little generous. 

Dortmund remain undefeated this season ahead of their showdown with Bayern after the international break. Leipzig, meanwhile, continue their undefeated run since being battered by Bayern on opening night. 

In truth, both teams will probably be satisfied with the draw as Dortmund and Leipzig stay 2nd and 3rd, respectively. 

Around The Grounds

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, FC Heidenheim still remains bottom following a 1-0 loss to VfB Stuttgart. The Swabians scored the winner just past the hour mark from time to add even more misery on Frank Schmidt’s side. Heidenheim stay bottom, whilst Stuttgart shoot up into 4th. 

Bayer Leverkusen have put their early-season woes behind them as they go 5th with a 2-0 win against Union Berlin. It’s the first time that B04 has registered back-to-back Bundesliga wins this season as new head coach Kasper Hjulmand looks to be making a positive impact on his squad. 

Borussia Mönchengladbach still remain winless going into the international break after a 0-0 draw against SC Freiburg. Despite that and amid all the administrative turmoil at Borussia Mönchengladbach, interim head coach Eugen Polanski has been given the green light to continue his audition on the sidelines.

There were also wins for FC Köln (0-1 vs TSG Hoffenheim), Werder Bremen (1-0 vs St. Pauli), and FC Augsburg (3-1 vs VfL Wolfsburg). 

GGFN | Jamie Allen

After garnering an assist in Eintracht’s opening round Pokal victory, Uzun set a new club record in Eintracht’s Bundesliga opener. No 19-year-old SGE player had ever recorded three scorer points in a single game. Uzun parlayed his goal and two assists against Werder Bremen into a “scorched earth” start to his season in general, scoring a goal in five straight matches on-the-spin. 

The streak at long last came to an end in Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Athletico Madrid. Uzun then obviously didn’t get his name on the scoresheet in Bayern Munich’s blanking of his team in the match-day six Bundesliga Saturday evening “Top-Spiel“. A pair of less successful games still doesn’t diminish Uzun’s accomplishments: Six goals and four assists in nine matches across all competitions. 

Both Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany and DFB director Rudi Völler had their chances to register comments about Uzun this week. Völler – with some degree of wistfulness – spoke on his inability to get the Regensburg-native to represent Germany. Kompany noted that Uzun’s rise renders the departure of so many big names from the Bundesliga this summer irrelevant.

SGE sporting director Timmo Hardung also spoke on Uzun on last Sunday’s “Doppelpass” roundtable discussion. The Eintracht personnel executive spoke on the importance of staggering development for young talents like Uzun whilst discussing the player’s first season with Eintracht. 

“We tried [to recruit him],” Völler remarked at the Premier of his new documentary film “Rudi Völler – Es gibt nur einen“. “In the end, we accepted his decision [to represent Turkey] after a lovely conversation with his father and agent. Seeing him have such a successful career now, I have to admit,  brings a little tear to my eye. Because that’s exactly what we hoped for. He’s a wonderful footballer.“

“[Can is] a very good example of what development means and how long it sometimes takes in terms of time and patience,” Hardung added on “Doppelpass“. “He came from the 2. Bundesliga [1. FC Nürnberg] and that was taken into account.The road is far from over, but we can now see what he is capable of.“

“We’ve lost many top players in the Bundesliga,” Kompany noted with a wink when asked about Can at his Friday pre-match press conference. “But that also makes room for a new generation of top players.“

GGFN | Peter Weis

Toppmöller complained anyway, citing an instances in last week’s crazy ten-goal affair against Borussia Mönchengladbach in which his team wasn’t awarded a handball penalty. On the topic of that match, it’s important to note that Gladbach’s four unanswered goals in the second half kicked off a worrying trend. Taking Tuesday’s Champions League shellacking into account Frankfurt have been outscored 12-1 in their last 223 minutes of football. 

“I don’t think these games should be used as a yardstick to evaluate the boys right now,” Toppmöller insisted when conducting a post-match interview with Sky Germany after the match. “It’s important for us to know that we still have a little room for improvement in order to compete at this level.”

“No one has been able to keep up with Bayern at their level thus far [this year],” Toppmöller continued, adding special praise for Harry Kane’s distance effort that made it 0-2 in the 27th-minute. “That was a typical Bayern goal and Harry Kane’s finish was simply world class.

“We’re just glad that we have a break now and can catch our breath,” Toppmöller concluded. “Then we’ll attack again.”

SGE board-member-for-sport Markus Krösche concurred with his coach’s assessment of Bayern’s performance on the evening. Krösche had little choice but to shrug his shoulders and admit that Bayern don’t look to be beatable at the moment.

“Against Bayern, you always need a good game plan,” Krösche remarked in the mixed zone. “Looking at the first half, that was certainly not the case for us today. Especially in their current form, Bayern are in a class of their own. To compete with them, you need to be in top form. We weren’t today.“

GGFN | Peter Weis

The visitors took the lead early on when Luis Diaz headed home a Serge Gnabry cross. The goal was scored within 15 seconds of the kick-off, making it the quickest goal of the Bundesliga season. The quickest goal in the history of the league remains Karim Bellerabi’s goal against Borussia Dortmund in 2015. 

Frankfurt thought they had equalised when Jean Bahoya’s curling effort outside of the box beat Manuel Neuer; however, in the lead-up to the goal, Ritsu Doan handled the ball, meaning it would be ruled out by VAR. 

Harry Kane would make it 2-0 when Diaz turned to assist and teed the ball up for the Englishman’s long-range effort. 

In the first half, Frankfurt brought energy and looked to go toe to toe with the league leaders. However, the errors throughout the first 45 were ultimately the reason they were 2-0 down, then in the second half, they were far too flat and just allowed the visitors to easily control the game.

When Frankfurt ventured forward to try and look like scoring, Bayern were able to counter, and Diaz would score his second of the game to make it 3-0. 

However, the biggest cause for concern will be the fact that Kane was subbed off with an ankle injury. 

Bayern maintain their 100% record:

This being the beginning of a difficult set of games for the Rekordmeister, today’s performance will give confidence to Vincent Kompany that his team will be able to manage this next month. Of course, teams will most likely give Bayern a harder time than Frankfurt did today, but they were able to comfortably manage the game with little trouble. 

Obviously, the extent of the Harry Kane injury will be the most important thing. The Englishman has by far been the best player not only in the team, but in the league in the early stages of the season. With Jamal Musiala already on the sidelines, if Kane were to spend a lengthy time out as well, it could cause problems. 

After the break, Bayern face Borussia Dortmund, a week later they travel to traditional bogey team Borussia Mönchengladbach, then they host Bayer Leverkusen before facing PSG in the Champions League.

Defensive issues persist for Frankfurt:

Today’s result means that Frankfurt have now conceded 16 goals in their last four games, which is closer to what a team fighting relegation would average. As good as this young team is going forward, they are far too vulnerable in defence.

Individual errors were costly for die Adler today. Kaua Santos does not seem to instil confidence in the goal, while the pair of Robin Koch and Arthur Theate also seems unstable.

What is clear is that Frankfurt are lacking leaders in their team, and when we are talking about leaders, we are talking about the likes of Kevin Trapp, players who have played and achieved a lot at the highest level. The only player who has done this is Mario Götze. 

If Frankfurt want to achieve anything meaningful this season, this way of playing is far from sustainable.

Eintracht Frankfurt:

Kaua Santos (4) – Aurelia Buta (5), Robin Koch (4), Arthur Theate (4), Nathanial Brown (5),  – Ellyes Skhiri (5), Hugo Larsson (5) – Ritsu Doan (5), Can Uzun (5), Jean Bahoya (6) – Jonathan Burkardt (5)

Others: Ansgar Knauff (5), Farès Chaïbi (5), Oscar Højlund (5), Mario Götze (5), Elye Wahi (-)

Bayern Munich:

Manuel Neuer (5) – Konrad Laimer (5), Jonathan Tah (5), Dayot Upamecano (6), Sacha Boey (5) – Joshua Kimmich (6), Leon Goretzka (5) – Michael Olise (6), Serge Gnabry (6), Luis Diaz (8) – Harry Kane (6)

Others: Aleksandar Pavlovic (5), Raphaël Guerreiro (5), Nicolas Jackson (-), Lennart Karl (-), Tom Bischof

GGFN Player of the Match: Luis Diaz (8)

Scored twice and assisted Kane’s goal. The Colombian’s second goal highlighted what he brings to the Bayern squad: a dynamism and energy that have been lacking in their attack for a while. Not even the likes of Leroy Sané or Kingsley Coman can match what Diaz offers. According to FotMob, the 28-year-old even created the most chances in the game. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan

The only debutant in the squad is Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathanial Brown.  

The most notable returnee is Nico Schlotterbeck. The Borussia Dortmund defender was called up after he made his return following a meniscus injury. Other players who have earned recalls to the squad are Schlotterbeck’s teammates Maximilian Beier and Felix Nmecha. Jonathan Burkardt also makes a return. While Ridle Baku makes his first appearance in a German squad since November 2021. 

During the break, Germany will face Luxembourg in Sinsheim on October 10th, and three days later, they will face Northern Ireland in Belfast in the return fixture of their September game. The game against Northern Ireland will be an important one for Germany as they are currently level on points with the hosts, who made things difficult for them in Köln earlier this season. 

Germany’s Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel, Finn Dahmen 

Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Ridle Baku, Nathanial Brown, Robin Koch, David Raum, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah

Midfields: Karim Adeyemi, Nadiem Amiri, Robert Andrich, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Jamie Leweling, Felix Nmecha, Angelo Stiller, Florian Wirtz

Forwards: Maximilian Beier, Jonathan Burkardt, Nick Woltemade

GGFN | Jack Meenan

It was obvious from the start that it was UCL veterans against a team of majority debutants. Frankfurt conceded early on when Giacomo Raspadori tapped the ball in to give the hosts an early lead. Die Adler were unable to gain any sort of hold on the game with Atleti well on top.

The Spaniards then doubled their lead when Robin Le Normand headed home. Just before half-time, Atleti made it 3-0. 

In the second half, Frankfurt came out brightly and gave themselves a lifeline with a Jonathan Burkardt goal. However, it would not last long as the Spaniards made it 4-1 from a Giuliano Simeone header. A Julian Alvarez penalty would make it 5-1 in the 82nd minute.  

So here are the three things we learnt: 

Frankfurt receives a Champions League reality check:  

Atleti are Champions League regulars. They have made the competition 13 seasons in a row and are always involved in the knockout rounds. After a strong performance against Galatasaray in the opening round, today has shown how Frankfurt actually matches up to the ‘bigger’ teams in the competition. 

Against the Spaniards, the young Bundesliga squad were schooled in how to manage and play in a big European tie. 

On top of this, the occasion probably got to Frankfurt, and they were never able to implement their style of play. Can Uzun, who has been electric in the opening games of the season, was non-existent, while the other attackers were also feeding off scraps. 

The takeaway from this is that Frankfurt are not expected to win these types of games. However, they still have to face Liverpool, Barcelona and Napoli, so this young team needs to learn how to play in these games – fast. 

Defending is a problem:

In Frankfurt’s past three games, they have conceded 13 goals. In the first, they lost 4-3 to Union Berlin, at the weekend, they beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 6-4, and today they have lost 5-1. 

As great as they are going forward, defending is a real issue for this team, in this game alone (via FotMob), Frankfurt have allowed Atleti to have 12 shots on target, and most importantly, eight big chances. 

This has become a worrying theme over the past couple of games. Now the team is young, but they need to learn how to defend better. Several times in this game, their high line was too high, and it would be easily exposed by Atleti. 

With a game against Bayern Munich on Saturday, with the way both teams are playing, it looks as if the Bundesliga leaders will comfortably beat Frankfurt. 

Which leads me on to the final thing.

Frankfurt need more experience:

This is one of the youngest teams in the league, and as fun as it is to see a young team be successful, you need experience, and when it comes to experience at the highest level, Frankfurt are significantly lacking.

In the squad, there is Robin Koch, Michael Zetterer, Mario Götze, Michy Batshuayi, Ellyes Skhiri and Ritsu Doan when it comes to players over 25. In the Bundesliga, Frankfurt can get away with this, but when it comes to the top echelons of European football, only Götze has the experience at this level. 

The departure of Kevin Trapp in the summer to Paris has been an understated one, and his European experience would have significantly helped this team.  

Now it is clear that they are lacking, and if they want to achieve anything, they may need to adopt a similar approach to Leverkusen and continue with the signing of young players, but also need more experience to take them to the next level. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan