Adi Hütter Backs Goalkeeper Santos Amid Transfer Speculation
Adi Hütter is standing by his goalkeeper – at least for now.
The returning Eintracht Frankfurt coach confirmed that Brazilian keeper Santos will start in the upcoming cup tie, even as the debate over his future rages on. Asked directly about bringing in a new No. 1, Hütter kept the door wide open.
“Then we will see what else happens in future,” the Austrian said on Wednesday, offering clarity for the weekend but no guarantees beyond it.
Keeper question back on the table
Frankfurt’s 0-7 collapse in their final pre-season friendly at Premier League side Brentford FC has thrown the spotlight back on Santos. The heavy defeat did more than dent confidence; it reignited a long-running discussion around the 23-year-old’s role.
Reports in the German media claim Hütter has lost faith in the Brazilian. Names are already circulating. Noah Atubolu of SC Freiburg and former Eintracht favourite Lukas Hradecky, currently at AS Monaco, are being discussed as potential transfer targets.
Hütter, though, refused to be drawn into that conversation. He declined to comment on any possible reinforcements – not just in goal, but across the squad. For now, Santos stays in the firing line. The question is for how long.
Koch cleared after concussion scare
There is at least one piece of good news for Eintracht. In the cup, Hütter expects to have his captain and defensive organiser Robin Koch back on the pitch.
Koch suffered a slight concussion in the debacle at Brentford, raising fears he might miss the competitive start. Hütter moved to calm those concerns.
“I assume he will play,” he said, underlining just how important the defender is to a back line that looked alarmingly fragile in London.
The Brentford defeat has already been dissected in detail. Hütter revealed he sat down with his players to go through the game and did not sugarcoat his verdict.
“Something like that is absolutely not on in that form. We carried out a clear analysis. It has been a warning shot.”
The message is unmistakable: Santos will get another chance, Koch will lead again, but Eintracht’s margin for error has shrunk dramatically – on the pitch and in the transfer market.
