By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Reports from Frankfurt: SGE linked with Sassuolo striker, Krösche defends team after cup defeat

On the day after a humiliating first-round DFB cup exit to smaller regional rivals SV Waldhof Mannheim, Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche spoke to journalist Julian Franzke of German footballing magazine Kicker. 

In addition to confirming the imminent arrival of Jens Petter Hauge, the new SGE chief personnel exec insisted that he was satisfied with the quality of his squad. 

Rumors of the club's quest for additional attacking assistance are nevertheless cropping up. 
Markus Krösche.
Markus Krösche.Photo: GEPA Pictures/Roger Petzsche
Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche lamented a "tough setback" when asked about the club's 0-2 defeat in the opening round of the country's domestic cup. The 40-year-old administrator still took care to strike a positive tone ahead of what will prove a very difficult league debut against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday's "Topspiel".

"I think that we're, on the whole, on a very good path," Krösche told Kicker's Julian Franzke, "We have to improve many things, but we don't question the quality of the squad and trust every single player."

Eintracht's loss to a club from the 3. Bundesliga remains disconcerting, however, as all ten first-team outfielders performed very poorly. Krösche took time to speak about the impending arrival of AC Milan's Jens Petter Hauge.

"Jens Petter possesses an incredible amount of speed," Krösche noted, "He's a threat in front of goal. He can also play in a variety of positions and crack some deep block formations with his one-on-one ability."

Although Krösche insisted that he was "very satisfied" with his team and revealed "there probably won't be much more on the transfer market", both Italian transfer expert Gianluca and Germany's Sport Bild currently report that the German Eagles, following the finalization of the Hauge transfer, wish to reach back in the Serie A to ply center forward Gianluca Scamacca away from US Sassuolo.

The 22-year-old's €15 million price tag may initially seem a bit high, but it looks as if--contrary to earlier reports--the SGE are about to obtain Hauge on loan after all. Franzke reports that Hauge will not be purchased outright. Frankfurt will secure a purchase option for around €7 million, but save the transfer fee.

Krösche also noted that the transfer window "will still be open for a relatively long time."



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