Eintracht Frankfurt seek to pluck attacking assistance from FC Groningen ranks
Fredi Bobic and Bruno Hübner reportedly have their sights set on Ajdin Hrustic, a Fillip Kostic-like winger currently playing in Holland as a wide partner for Kostic in the new season.
German footballing magazine Kicker reports that Eintracht Frankfurt seek to make their first major splash in transfer market following an uncharacteristically quiet Summer. Die Adler remain in need of some assistance on the right attacking flank in the form of an axial partner for Filip Kostic. Kicker sources confirm that the club in is talks with Dutch side FC Gronigen to acquire 24-year-old Australian winger Ajdin Hrustic.
Head coach Adi Hütter struck unexpected gold in the second-half of last year’s Bundesliga campaign, when he converted then 29-year-old veteran right back Timothy Chandler Kostic’s wide partner. Few expected the veteran Chandler, recovering from potentially career-ending surgery that saw him miss nearly two years, to thrive in the position.
To the shock and delight of both German and American fans claiming dual citizen Chandler as their own, the SGE old-pro exploded to net five goals as supply an equal number of assists in a highly improbable late career renaissance. Hütter nevertheless took few chances with respect to his playing time. Gelson Fernandes and Danny da Costa also took turns plugging Frankfurt’s personnel gap on the right wing.
With Fernandes now retired, Hütter appears ready to hedge his bet with both da Costa and Chandler. Hrustic, a player of Bosnian heritage, should recall some German from his days spent in both the Austrian Vienna and Schalke 04 youth ranks. He transferred to the Eredivisie in 2014 and made his debut with the Gronigen senior side in 2017. He’s scored three goals and chipped in three assists in 25 appearances since.
Whether it's a coincidence or not, FC Gronigen also happened to be the proving ground from whence current SGE sporting CEO Fredi Bobic snatched up Filip Kostic when he was in charge of VfB Stuttgart. Much like Kostic, Hrustic is also considered a set-pieces expert with refined abilities on his preferred left foot.