Who is Daichi Kamada? The Eintracht star who should top wishlists this summer
Randal Kolo Muani is the poster boy for Eintracht Frankfurt. The Frenchman has understandably attracted watchful glances from Europe's top teams as they witness the 24-year-old tear up the Bundesliga. Eintracht head into the weekend's action in fifth and Muani has been vital in their push for a top-four finish. Just five points off top, a sustained title push is not out of the question.
Only Bayern Munich (56) have scored more goals than Eintracht (40) at the time of writing this season, with Muani directly involved in 47.5% of those, netting nine times in the process. With a WhoScored rating of 7.32, Muani is the seventh best rated player in Germany's top tier this term, yet his superb form has seen a teammate's excellent showings fly somewhat under the radar.
With the focus on Muani, Daichi Kamada has quietly been going about his business for Oliver Glasner's side. Indeed, the Japan international has scored seven and assisted four in the Bundesliga this season, and like Muani, his form has not gone unnoticed. However, unlike Muani, it would be a shock if Eintracht were to command a huge fee for Kamada at the end of the season.
Muani may be a man in demand in the summer, and Eintracht will feel confident they can name their price for the France international. Kamada, though, is out of contract at the end of the season, and there feels an inevitability that he will depart for pastures new in the summer. The Japanese midfielder is enjoying his most prolific domestic campaign to date and there is reported interest in his services from the Premier League. Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and PSG are also rumoured to be keen on Kamada.
One of the primary reasons for the hefty interest in his services is Kamada's versatility on the frontline. Able to play a number of roles in the final third, noted in that Kamada has played through the middle and on the left flank this season, this adaptability is an increasingly desired trait for top teams. In a bid to keep players happy, and with the biggest sides playing upwards of 50 games a campaign, managers look to those who can operate in a number of positions to boost their chances of success.
That said, to get the best out of Kamada, he is better suited to playing in midfield, be it in a deeper role or in the position behind the striker. Here he can really maximise his quality in possession to help pry apart defences or, at the very least, help Eintracht remain dominant in the final third. Indeed, a return of 1.3 key passes per 90 is the fourth best of all players for Eintracht this season, with Kamada able to find space in the attacking third before turning and picking out a teammate.
And if a chance to assist a teammate isn't on, then Kamada has the knack for netting. The aforementioned seven goals is the eighth best in the Bundesliga this season, while of the 70 players to muster 20 or more shots, Kamada's conversion rate of 33.3% is the best in Germany's top tier. For any team seeking to add an additional goal threat from midfield, Kamada is ideal.
What does stand out, though, is that Kamada relies more on his vision rather than his ability to beat a teammate to help force the opportunity for Eintracht. The 26-year-old is averaging just 0.5 successful dribbles per 90 in 2022/23, favouring instead to either retain possession for the good of his side, or getting his head up and picking out a forward player in the final third. Kamada has the innate ability to peel off a marker in search of space between the opposition midfield and defence, and if picked out, then he has what is takes to split a backline apart.
This quality to his game benefits his goalscoring ability, too. Of the seven league goals he has scored this season, four have come in the opposition box, though it is worth noting that two of his three goals from outside of the box have been direct from free-kicks. He can make darting runs into the opposition box that can be picked out. Nevertheless, Eintracht have at their disposal a player who is able to drift into dangerous positions, and as proven by his impressive conversion rate, will more often than not make opponents pay.
An additional appeal for potential suitors in Kamada is his hard work off the ball. The midfielder has developed a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'tackling' and deservedly so as he averages two tackles per 90 in the Bundesliga this season. This is part of the reason why he has been deployed in a deeper midfield role in 2022/23, and it's a key element to his game higher up the pitch, too. Pressuring opponents in their defensive third leads to turnovers in possession and forces mistakes that can be exploited.
There are a number of high profile stars whose contracts are expiring this summer, but Kamada could prove the most interesting on the market at the end of the season. He's a midfielder who can offer plenty both on and off the ball, and for a side seeking to add another goal threat to the ranks in the off-season, than Kamada should be high on wishlists.
