By Graham Ruthven
No membership in Europe has raked in extra money promoting forwards underneath the age of 25 within the final two years than Eintracht Frankfurt. Hugo Ekitike, Omar Marmoush and Randal Kolo Muani made the Bundesliga outfit a mixed €260m and the subsequent ahead to generate an enormous switch charge is already coming alongside the manufacturing line.
Can Uzun has been a revelation for Frankfurt this season. The 19-year-old is without doubt one of the brightest attacking prospects anyplace in European soccer proper now having registered six objectives and three assists in simply seven appearances and has the expertise to achieve the very best ranges of the game.
The beginning of the 2025/26 marketing campaign might have been tough for Eintracht Frankfurt, and in some methods it has been. Tuesday’s 5-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid continued the pattern of Dino Toppmöller’s group conceding far too many objectives. Certainly, Frankfurt have conceded 4 or extra in every of their final 4 outings.
On the different finish of the pitch, although, their fortunes have been higher when many feared the worst. The Eagles misplaced Ekitike and Marmoush in back-to-back home windows, robbing them of two gamers who mixed for 44% of their objectives tally within the Bundesliga final season. That share certainly would have been increased had Marmoush not left in January.
Frankfurt had been compelled to rebuild their ahead line. Jonathan Burkardt and Ritsu Doan had been signed with the pair already first group figures, however Uzun has caught the attention greater than anybody else, making an enormous leap ahead in his growth after a difficult first season within the Bundesliga.
Uzun first made a reputation for himself at Nürnberg the place he completed because the membership’s high scorer within the 2. Bundesliga. {The teenager} was an attacking sensation within the German second tier, becoming a member of Frankfurt for a reported €15m in the summertime of 2024. Uzun, nevertheless, needed to be affected person as alternatives had been restricted in his first season there.
With Ekitike and Marmoush forward of him within the pecking order, Uzun performed simply 669 league minutes. Even nonetheless, {the teenager} confirmed glimpses of his potential, averaging a aim contribution each 134 minutes. His objectives and assists to sport ratio has been much more spectacular for the reason that summer season.
Whereas Ekitike and Marmoush had been forwards who had been most harmful attacking open house at velocity, Uzun gives extra in possession. The Turkish worldwide operates as a quantity 10, however with the liberty to float and choose up pockets of house wherever he can. He’s Frankfurt’s principal man within the remaining third.
Not solely is Uzun Eintracht Frankfurt’s high scorer this season, he’s averaging probably the most photographs on course per 90 minutes. Doan is the one participant to have created extra Large Probabilities than the 19-year-old, highlighting Uzun’s capability as a creator, not only a goalscorer. He’s an all-round menace.
“I see myself as an instinctive footballer; I do no matter involves thoughts on the pitch. Put merely, I’ve a superb nostril for an opportunity,” mentioned Uzun when requested to explain his position within the Frankfurt group. “I desire to play within the left half-space, as a quantity 10 or an eight, but when the coach places me elsewhere, then in fact I’ll fulfil these duties.”
Some have in contrast Uzun to Jamal Musiala in the best way he can do all of it. Just like the Bayern Munich attacking midfielder, he’s simply as comfy dribbling previous an opponent as he’s selecting a go to a teammate or angling a shot at aim. Mario Götze is one other participant Uzun has been likened to.
There are similarities between Uzun and Kenan Yıldız, each of whom got here by the youth ranks at 3.Liga aspect Jahn Regensburg. “Kenan is my finest buddy within the sport and my finest buddy generally,” Uzun mentioned about Yıldız, a participant who additionally appears to have progressed as a quantity 10 with an eye fixed for aim this season. The pair, together with Arda Güler, are on the vanguard of Türkiye’s subsequent era.
The way in which Uzun is creating at such a fast charge, he won’t be at Deutsche Financial institution Park for a very long time. Liverpool are reportedly monitoring {the teenager} with Bayern Munich additionally believed to be admirers. Eintracht Frankfurt might obtain gives for his or her finest younger participant as early because the January window.
In the interim, although, Uzun should proceed to drive Frankfurt ahead as they give the impression of being to construct on the success of final season’s third-place end. Even by the membership’s latest commonplace of manufacturing top-level forwards, their newest expertise off the conveyor belt seems to be one thing very particular.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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