Eintracht Frankfurt push to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo permanently after productive loan spell
Eintracht Frankfurt are pressing to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo from Nottingham Forest after his 2025/26 loan, with talks ongoing as clubs haggle over a fee and structure.
Arnaud Kalimuendo’s productive loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt has triggered fresh talks about a permanent transfer, with the 24-year-old scoring six Bundesliga goals and setting up one more in 19 appearances. Sources close to the negotiations say Frankfurt want to keep the France-born forward but are unwilling to trigger a previously agreed €27 million option, instead valuing the player nearer €20 million. Nottingham Forest, however, are standing firm on a higher return and are seeking roughly €25 million, creating a clear gap between the clubs. The player has signalled his preference to remain in Frankfurt, a factor that could shape the talks as the summer window approaches.
Frankfurt move to convert loan into permanent signing
Eintracht Frankfurt opened the door to a permanent deal after Kalimuendo’s mid-season impact supplied the club with a steady scoring option and tactical flexibility. The club view the forward as a valuable addition to the squad under returning coach Adi Hütter, who officially rejoined the club and sees Kalimuendo as compatible with his attacking patterns. Management have entered negotiations with Nottingham Forest to convert the loan into a full transfer but have made clear they will not simply pay the previously stipulated option price. With the summer transfer market set to open, Frankfurt are aiming for a resolution that balances sporting needs with financial prudence.
Fee disagreement frames negotiations
Central to the talks is a disagreement over valuation: Eintracht have placed Kalimuendo at about €20 million while Nottingham Forest are insisting on nearer €25 million, and earlier reports referenced a €27 million option that Frankfurt do not wish to activate. The contrasting positions reflect differing priorities; Frankfurt are budgeting carefully and prefer a lower fixed fee possibly supplemented by add-ons, while Forest seek to maximize the fee for a player they initially signed with Premier League potential in mind. Negotiators from both clubs are reportedly exploring compromises including staged payments, performance-related bonuses and sell-on clauses, with each side trying to limit downside while protecting future upside.
Player preference and sporting fit reinforce Frankfurt case
Kalimuendo has publicly and privately signalled a desire to remain in Hessen, according to insiders, a stance that strengthens Frankfurt’s negotiating leverage despite the fee impasse. On the field his movement in behind defenders, intelligent link-up play and finishing instincts helped the club through a demanding second half of the season, and his adaptability to several attacking roles makes him an attractive long-term option. At 24 years old, he is at an age where regular playing time is crucial to development, and Eintracht can promise a platform for competitive minutes in the Bundesliga and continental competition if they complete the signing. That alignment of sporting ambition and personal preference may tip the balance if Nottingham Forest decide a sale is preferable to keeping a player keen to leave.
Squad planning and transfer business at Eintracht
Frankfurt’s broader summer plans have direct bearing on the Kalimuendo pursuit, with reports indicating potential departures among the club’s forward options. With Elye Wahi and Noel Futkeu both linked with moves away, the club expects incoming transfer revenue that could be allocated to securing Kalimuendo permanently. Sporting directors are balancing the need to replenish attacking depth with financial restraint, and a sale-and-reinvest model is central to that strategy. If the club can convert outgoing fees into targeted acquisitions, Kalimuendo’s permanent signing would fit a sustainable recruitment plan that prioritizes both immediate quality and long-term balance.
Nottingham Forest’s negotiating position and options
Nottingham Forest face choices that will influence the outcome, including whether to accept a lower immediate fee, push for add-ons to reach their valuation, or keep the player for the upcoming Premier League campaign. From Forest’s perspective, Kalimuendo represents an asset acquired with the expectation of Premier League-level returns, and allowing a sale below their target could be resisted unless a clear strategic rationale exists. The club could prefer structured payments, buy-back rights, or future sell-on percentages to preserve value, and those mechanisms are commonly used to bridge gaps in valuation. Forest’s ultimate decision will hinge on transfer priorities, squad composition for next season and the reported willingness of the player to commit to Frankfurt.
Timeline, likely structures and next steps
With the transfer window looming, clubs usually try to conclude deals during the early summer to give new signings a full pre-season, and that timetable is likely guiding the current pace of talks. Negotiators are discussing a range of possible deal structures that could include an initial fee closer to Frankfurt’s valuation with conditional add-ons that lift the total toward Forest’s asking price. Payment schedules, performance clauses and potential sell-on percentages are the logical levers to reconcile the gap without jeopardizing the clubs’ respective objectives. Eintracht’s front office will also weigh squad stability and Hütter’s tactical plans as they decide how aggressively to pursue the signing before the window progresses.
Kalimuendo’s performances and clear preference to remain in Germany put pressure on Nottingham Forest to make a pragmatic choice as they weigh transfer revenue against squad needs.
The coming weeks should reveal whether the two clubs can narrow the €5m-plus gap that currently separates their positions, or whether alternative structures become the decisive factor in closing a deal. Fans of both clubs will be watching closely as months of negotiation often resolve into creative agreements, and the final outcome will shape both Eintracht’s attacking options and Forest’s summer planning.
