The summer transfer window may be firmly shut, but the fallout from dramatic deadline-day twists continues to ripple across European football. For Eintracht Frankfurt manager Adi Hütter, the closing hours of the window brought immense frustration, with the Bundesliga club ultimately missing out on their primary attacking target due to a decisive late intervention from the top of Nottingham Forest’s hierarchy.
According to reports from German outlet Bild, Eintracht’s ambitious pursuit to bring French forward Arnaud Kalimuendo back to the Bundesliga was dead-ended at the eleventh hour, with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis stepping in to pull the plug on the proposed deal.
Kalimuendo’s Rollercoaster Journey at the City Ground
The 24-year-old striker originally made the switch to the City Ground from French outfit Stade Rennais in August 2025. However, his initial introduction to English football proved difficult, failing to secure a consistent run in the starting XI or find regular goalscoring rhythm.
Seeking to jumpstart his career and rediscover his developmental trajectory, Kalimuendo was allowed to cross the channel in January, joining Eintracht Frankfurt on loan with an option to buy. That temporary stint in Germany breathed fresh life into his game. Over 19 appearances and roughly 1,421 minutes of competitive action across all competitions, the Frenchman bagged six well-taken goals and an assist, proving his value in a high-intensity Bundesliga environment.
Despite that productive spell, Eintracht ultimately opted against triggering the permanent purchase clause at the end of the season, resulting in Kalimuendo returning to Nottingham Forest for pre-season.
Marinakis Intervenes to Block the Bundesliga Return
When Adi Hütter returned to the dugout, one of his primary mandates was to secure a reunion with Kalimuendo, identifying the forward as an ideal fit to bolster his frontline. Throughout the final weeks of the window, Frankfurt pushed hard to negotiate a deal with their English counterparts.
However, behind-the-scenes decision-making at the City Ground shifted. While Oliver Glasner’s tactical blueprint played a major part in shaping the squad, reports confirmed that owner Evangelos Marinakis ultimately intervened on deadline day, vetoing Kalimuendo’s departure and forcing the striker to remain in the East Midlands.
Addressing the media following the collapse of the transfer, a clearly disappointed Hütter did not hide his frustration regarding how the negotiations unfolded.
“We tried everything,” Hütter admitted when questioned about the failed pursuit.
“But it didn’t work because of the other side.”
Dealing with the Fallout in Frankfurt
With the deadline passing and no late alternatives secured, Eintracht find themselves in a precarious position heading into the meat of the domestic campaign. The Bundesliga side are now left relying heavily on Jonathan Burkardt and Younes Ebnoutalib as their only recognized senior central striking options—both of whom battled troublesome injury layoffs during the previous season.
Despite the setback, Hütter attempted to project an aura of calm regarding his current squad depth, insisting that the club will adapt and make the most of the personnel at their disposal.
“We’ll stay the way we are. And I’m happy with that,” Hütter explained.
“As long as they’re fit, I want to let the lads up front run. We’re sticking with that for now because it’s worked well in many games.”
Meanwhile, back in England, Kalimuendo finds himself fighting an uphill battle for regular minutes under Glasner. His season so far has been restricted to fleeting appearances, including a 60-minute runout in Forest’s EFL Cup defeat to Leeds United alongside a solitary minute off the bench in Premier League play.
Whether keeping Kalimuendo as squad insurance proves to be a masterstroke by Marinakis and Glasner or a missed opportunity to cash in on an unsettled asset will unfold over the winter months. For now, the Frenchman remains a Red, while Frankfurt are left to wonder what might have been.
