Borussia Dortmund are reportedly keeping tabs on Eintracht Frankfurt full-back Elias Baum. The 20-year-old is having a promising pre-season campaign with the Eagles and has alerted the BVB, who are now interested in the player.
What is Baum's connection with Ole Book?
Elias Baum knows Dortmund's sporting director Nils-Ole Book from his days at Elvesberg. During his time with the Saarland outfit, the right-back emerged as one of German football's most promising young talents. In fact, his market value went up from a million euros to €8 million during the 2024-25 season in the 2. Bundesliga.
Now, the pair could be on their way to reconnecting again as Ole Book is said to be impressed with the player's talents and wants to bring him to Westfalonstadion as he looks up to Baum as a potential replacement for the out-of-favor Yan Couto, who played second fiddle to Julian Ryerson last season and could yet leave the club this summer.
Baum struggling for gametime at Frankfurt
For all his talents and high ratings though, Elias Baum struggled to find regular gametime at Frankfurt last season. He played for only 71 minutes in the Bundesliga across five appearances, while his spate of injuries didn't help Baum either, as the player missed a handful of games due to a hamstring issue and then a ligament damage.
This had had an impact on his market value too, as it dropped to €4 million. The rumors linking him to other clubs also slowly fizzled out although they are resurfacing now with Baum impressing in the pre-season and new Frankfurt coach Adi Hutter hinting at possible opportunities for him next season when he told this to German news outlet BILD:
""Elias has power, he has punch and he wants it. That's why it doesn't surprise me that other clubs are interested in him.""
Second fiddle to Ryerson at BVB
Even if Yan Couto were to depart before the end of the summer transfer window, it won't guarantee Elias Baum a place in the starting lineup. Julian Ryerson is simply indispensable in Niko Kovac's tactical system, especially after his 18-assist haul last season.
So Baum would eseentially be competing with the Norwegian for a spot in the XI, although with Die Schwarzgelben competing in other competitions such as the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League would mean he'd still find some time if Kovac chooses to rotate his squad.
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