‘We know his quality’: Director admits he is ‘trying’ to sign £12.5m Leeds United ace ahead of the summer
‘We know his quality’: Director admits he is ‘trying’ to sign £12.5m Leeds United ace ahead of the summer
Whoever said you should ‘never fall in love with a loan player’ had obviously not watched Manor Solomon strut his stuff in the white of Leeds United.
Pascal Struijk may have dominated the gleeful post-match discussion as Leeds stunned Sunderland at a raucous Elland Road on Monday night but, to quote former boss Neil Redfearn, Solomon was the ‘standout’ performer of the evening.
Bobbing and weaving, shimmying and slaloming; Even Regis Le Bris’ well-drilled Sunderland outfit struggled to keep tabs on the Tottenham Hotspur-owned winger.
Despite often being marked by up to three Black Cats players at the same time, Sunderland’s backline resembled someone trying to catch smoke as Solomon effortlessly slipped through their fingers again and again.
Has there been a more popular loanee at Leeds United since Ben White? The sigh of relief could almost be heard all the way in Wetherby when Manor Solomon admitted he would be open to staying at Elland Road beyond the summer.
Some 660 miles to the east, meanwhile, a man who is still technically a Leeds player continues on his own quest to earn hero status as well as a permanent contract.
Eintracht Frankfurt chief opens up on Leeds United loanee Rasmus Kristensen
Rasmus Kristensen has been an ‘absolute hit’ at Eintracht Frankfurt – to quote the local press – even if the Bundesliga high-flyers seem determined to barter a lower fee than the £12.5 million sum agreed upon last summer.
Third-place Frankfurt took a big step towards Champions League qualification in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Holstein Kiel.
And, speaking at full-time, The Eagles’ sporting director Timmo Hardung admits he and the club are working hard to turn that temporary arrangement into a permanent one before the beginning of July.
“We’re trying,” Hardung said when asked about the prospect of keeping Rasmus Kristensen at the Commerzbank Arena. “We have him here until June 30th and we know about his quality.
“It’s no secret he’s become a big factor off the pitch too. He’s just a good guy who fits in very well with us in the team and the club.
“Let’s work on it. We still have until June 30th at least. We’ll definitely have his qualities [until] then.”
Frankfurt want a lower fee despite Kristensen’s fine Bundesliga form
According to BILD, an agreement between Frankfurt and Leeds was in ‘doubt’ earlier this month amid the German’s attempts to convince Kristensen’s parent club to accept new, and much reduced, terms.
Leeds are under no obligation to do so, of course. And with Kristensen giving his reputation an almighty shot in the arm – he has been arguably the Bundesliga’s stand-out right back since the turn of the year – Leeds would surely not struggle to find another club willing to meet their £12.5 million demands.
The Denmark international has scored two goals and provided three assists for Frankfurt while making 28 appearances in all competitions. Kristensen struck up a fine partnership with ex-PSG striker Hugo Ekitike, too, the Frenchman thriving following the £60 million sale of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in January.
“I love him,” Ekitike smiled after Kristensen set up his goals in successive games against Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim. “He’s a good player. Rasmus gave me the perfect pass [against Hoffenheim] and all I had to do was push it over the line.
“Hopefully, we’ll do that more often.”
Back at Elland Road, the ‘outstanding’ Jayden Bogle has established himself as one of Daniel Farke’s go-to starters in Kristensen’s absence. Thus, likely removing the need for the £10 million signing from Red Bull Salzburg to be brought back into the fold at the end of the current campaign.
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