Sunday was a fantastic day for the Eintracht Frankfurt faithful, as they got news of three big deals for the club. Carlos Zambrano is about to sign a new contract, with Lukas Hradecky and Mijat Gaćinović set to be announced later in the week.
Zambrano makes the fans' day
"I'm staying 200 percent," said Zambrano to the adoring crowd at the CommerzbankArena before their final pre-season outing. A great roar rose up from the tens of thousands of fans there on the club's fan day, and he is set to stay with the Eagles until 2019. Kicker suggest that a "verbal agreement" has been reached for a new four-year deal, and now only the signature is missing on the contract - this time with no buy-out clause.
The Peruvian defender's future had been up in the air for months on end and expired this summer, though the negotiations have definitely brought a fruitful end for all parties. In an Instagram post, Zambrano went as far as to almost sign the contract itself, saying: "The love of my club was stronger! After much speculation, I have decided to stay here, money is not everything in life."
What will the two new arrivals bring?
Gaćinović, a FIFA under-20 World Cup winner, will sign a deal until 2019 and Finland's first-choice goalkeeper, Hradecky, is set to pen a contract through to 2018. Both are set to play their final games for their respective clubs, Vojvodina Novi Sad and Brondby IF, in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night and Bruno Hübner added, "If all things go smoothly, they will be Eintracht players on Friday."
These look likely to be the final summer transfers for Eintracht, who have also recruited David Abraham (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Stefan Reinartz (Bayer Leverkusen) and their highest profile arrival, Luc Castaignos from FC Twente. It will be interesting to see who Armin Veh opts for in place of Kevin Trapp, who joined Paris-Saint Germain, as Hradecky does battle with fellow new signing Heinz Lindner for the number one jersey.