Why 16-year-old Hertha prodigy Kennet Eichhorn is attracting interest from Bayern, Dortmund and other top clubs | OneFootball

At just 16 years of age, Kennet Eichhorn has already established himself as an important presence in midfield for Hertha BSC in the 2. Bundesliga.

Thanks to his impressive performances for both Hertha and Germany’s youth national teams, Eichhorn has attracted interest from several Bundesliga clubs as well as top sides abroad.

Reports suggest that the young central midfielder has a release clause of just €10-12 million in his contract, making a summer transfer likely.

Florian Först, a scouting expert at German football site Kickfieber.de, has been following Eichhorn closely for some time and understands the growing hype surrounding the 16-year-old, saying he sees him as one of the most exciting German youngsters at the moment.

“Kennet Eichhorn is undoubtedly one of the most promising talents in German football right now, and probably the biggest talent alongside Lennart Karl of FC Bayern Munich,” Först told Bulinews.com.

Likened to Toni Kroos

Först notes that watching Eichhorn in action, it’s easy to forget his age, adding that the youngster reminds him in some ways of German legend Toni Kroos.

“What's particularly impressive about Eichhorn is his exceptional composure and maturity, despite being only 16 years old. In my entire career as a scout, I've rarely seen a player display such maturity at such a young age,” Först said. 

"On the ball, Eichhorn exudes absolute calm, displays excellent game intelligence, and can often resolve difficult situations with a combination of dribbling and progressive runs. In this respect, he's already among the best players in his position in the 2. Bundesliga. Furthermore, his actions are exceptionally clear and make his football seem effortless.

“This ease of play is somewhat reminiscent of Toni Kroos, although comparisons between these two players are otherwise somewhat inappropriate, and I'm personally not a fan of such labels.”

That said, Först notes that there are still areas where Eichhorn can improve.

“Eichhorn also holds his own off the ball and is already at a very respectable physical level, but he occasionally draws attention to himself with somewhat impetuous actions, resulting in yellow or recently a red card. Otherwise, there's still room for improvement in his progressive passing game, and Eichhorn would also need to adjust to a higher level of play," he said.

“Dortmund could certainly be a suitable club”

The big question now is where Eichhorn will end up, with the 16-year-old likely spending plenty of time weighing up his future.

German football magazine Kicker recently reported that Borussia Dortmund have identified Eichhorn as a top target for the summer, and Först believes a move to the Black and Yellows could be a good fit.

“Borussia Dortmund could certainly be a suitable club for Eichhorn. They recently hired a new sporting director in Ole Book, an expert on the 2. Bundesliga, who is expected to bring a breath of fresh air and will undoubtedly restructure the squad. Among other things, they're looking for a clear defensive midfielder who can also play cleanly on the ball and will eventually generate a resale value. Eichhorn could be the ideal choice, adapting gradually and then fighting for a regular starting position at Borussia,” he said.

Either way, Först believes Eichhorn would be wise to stay in Germany for now rather than move abroad.

“With all the other clubs mentioned, such as Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, or RB Leipzig, I actually consider his chances of playing time to be lower. I would advise Eichhorn against clubs like Manchester City or Arsenal at this point. A move to the Bundesliga seems like a very sensible next step,” he concluded.