Arsenal and Tottenham could be about to clash over a German youth international, after reports emerged that both clubs are tracking Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Sebastian Rode. talkSPORT’s Transfer Spotlight has more on the Germany U21 star…
Name: Sebastian Rode
Date of birth: 11 October, 1990
Birthplace: Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany
Position: Defensive midfielder
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
International: 3 (Germany U21)
What’s the latest?
Rode has started 21 Bundesliga games for Eintracht Frankfurt this season, but with only a year and a half left on his current deal with the club, the player is stalling on signing a new contract. That seems to be a consequence of interest in him from Arsenal and Tottenham, which the player himself has acknowledged publicly in recent days. Spurs are believed to have held unsuccessful talks with the German side for his signature last year.
Did you know?
1) Rode joined Kickers Offenbach’s academy in 2005. After three years with their youth team, he made his professional debut for the club in 2009, during their first season in the German third division following three years in the 2 Bundesliga.
2) The midfielder played 15 league games in his first professional season with Kickers, scoring one goal. Eintracht Frankfurt signed him in the summer of 2010, and he made the step up to the Bundesliga seamlessly, playing 14 games in the top flight in 2010/11. The German side were relegated at the end of the campaign.
3) The German began to make regular appearances for Frankfurt in 2011/12, starting 17 German second division games and scoring three goals for them that year, but it is this season that he has truly shone, with 22 starts in league and cup competitions following his side’s return to the top flight. Frankfurt are currently competing with Bayer Leverkusen for third position.
4) The midfielder is described as pacey, technically competent and a good distributor of the ball. He has however been criticised for a dip in form in the second half of the current Bundesliga season, seemingly coinciding with the arrival of interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich in particular.
5) Rode has a strong pedigree at youth international level with Germany, making his U18 debut in a 1-1 draw against Turkey in 2008. By 2009 he had been promoted to the U19 side, scoring his first international goal in a 5-0 victory against Estonia. Most recently, he played for Germany’s U21 in a double header against San Marino and Belarus in 2011.
He says
“I’m aware of the interest. I’ll keep my feet on the ground and avoid dreaming. Eintracht Frankfurt and I have agreed to postpone contract talks so I can concentrate on my football.”
Source: talkSport
