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Eintracht Frankfurt are reportedly exploring a surprise move to reunite with former striker Joselu as the Bundesliga side reviews its plans in attack after Ritsu Doan’s proposed transfer to Saudi Arabia broke down. According to Sky Germany, as cited by FT and transfermarkt.de, Frankfurt have been in touch with the 36-year-old for several days and are assessing whether to bring him back to the Rhein-Main city.

Joselu is currently a free agent after his contract with Qatari club Al-Gharafa expired at the end of June. Union Berlin are also said to be interested, while Lazio, Valencia and Sevilla have emerged as other possible destinations for the experienced forward. FT reports that Valencia and Sevilla have already tabled offers. Frankfurt, however, had still not submitted a concrete bid at the time of the latest update.

Even so, Joselu is believed to prefer a return to the Bundesliga.

Eintracht are keen to add another attacker before the transfer window shuts. Another loan deal for Arnaud Kalimuendo had been one of the possibilities being considered after the French forward spent the second half of last season in Frankfurt. However, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly asking for more than €30m for the 24-year-old.

That amount would be a club-record outlay for Eintracht and seems far harder to fund without the income from an anticipated Ritsu Doan sale, which ultimately collapsed at the last moment. Joselu, by contrast, would present a completely different option as he is available without a transfer fee.

The Stuttgart-born Spain international is already well known in German football. Frankfurt first brought Joselu in on loan from Hoffenheim for the 2013/14 season. At just 23 at the time, he produced 14 goals and three assists in 33 competitive appearances for the Rhein-Main Eagles. He later played for Hannover 96 before moving on in a career that also took him to Stoke City, Newcastle United, Espanyol and Real Madrid.

Joselu enjoyed the most successful spell of his career in the 2023/24 season in Madrid, helping Real Madrid win both La Liga and the Champions League before making the move to Al-Gharafa. He was also part of the Spain squad that won Euro 2024. Across his earlier Bundesliga spells with Hoffenheim, Frankfurt and Hannover, Joselu made 79 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 22 goals and providing eight assists.

At 36, the veteran would be viewed as a short-term answer rather than another major investment in Frankfurt’s long-term attacking future.

Joselu is not the only forward to have been linked with Eintracht recently. Karlsruher SC prospect Louey Ben Farhat, PSV attacker Esmir Bajraktarevic and San Lorenzo forward Rodrigo Auzmendi have all been mentioned as possible arrivals, although reported discussions over Ben Farhat have not progressed significantly.

Frankfurt’s search for another attacking option also remains tied to the wider squad-building picture laid out in Get German Football News’ 2026/27 Eintracht Frankfurt tactical preview. The club had hoped that outgoing transfers would create extra room for manoeuvre during the final stage of the window.