Challenges for Elye Wahi at Eintracht Frankfurt Amid Striker Injuries

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Jonathan Burkardt’s injury presented a prime opportunity for Elye Wahi to finally assert himself at the Bundesliga club. However, head coach Dino Toppmöller chose not to include Wahi in the matchday squad, citing performance-related issues as the reason for his absence.

In a pre-match press conference on Saturday, Toppmöller urged both Wahi and fellow underperforming striker Michy Batshuayi to elevate their performances. Batshuayi, who joined the RheinMainAdler for €3 million last January, has at least managed to score three Bundesliga goals during his time with the team. In stark contrast, Wahi, who was signed for a staggering €26 million in the January 2025 transfer window, has yet to score a goal and has recorded only one assist in 18 Bundesliga appearances.

“Now’s not the time for cuddling and petting,” Toppmöller stated regarding his two strikers. “At the end of the day, it’s our job to demand results. We expect a certain level of commitment from our players.”

Wahi seemed to be on the right track following a strong training camp and a goal in Eintracht’s initial DFB-Pokal victory. However, the 22-year-old has struggled in his three league starts, leading to speculation about a potential separation this January. His omission from the squad against Wolfsburg this past weekend further complicates his standing within the team.

Toppmöller opted to field Ansgar Knauff as the lead striker, placing Batshuayi and long-injured German forward Jessic Ngankam ahead of Wahi on the bench. Batshuayi later came off the bench to score a late equalizer from the penalty spot, salvaging a point for the team in a 1-1 draw against Wolfsburg. Toppmöller reiterated the necessity for his strikers to compete vigorously for their positions.

“This was performance-based,” Toppmöller emphasized just before kickoff. “We nominated Michy and Jessic as our strikers, and that’s sufficient for our squad.”