In what is a testament not only to the quality but also the multi-cultural make-up of Daniel Farke’s squad, no fewer than 16 Leeds United players were called up to their national teams this month.
Isaac Schmidt could earn a first senior cap for Switzerland. Ao Tanaka came on at half-time as Japan bet Bahrain 2-0 on Thursday. Dan James and Joe Rodon are expected to start for Wales, meanwhile, as are Manor Solomon for Israel and Ilia Gruev for Bulgaria.
In addition to a number of youth-team call-ups – see Mateo Joseph [Spain], Willy Gnonto [Italy] and Charlie Crew [Wales] – Rasmus Kristensen should be in action for Denmark just days after the Eintracht Frankfurt loanee opened his Bundesliga account.
Kristensen has been a big hit at Frankfurt, having joined on loan from Leeds United last summer.
Not only due to his rampaging runs down the flank and his fully-committed tackles, but also the leadership qualities he brings both on and off the pitch at the Commerzbank Arena.
Rasmus Hojlund’s brother learning from Leeds United loanee Rasmus Kristensen
The former Ajax and Red Bull Salzburg full-back should earn his 25th Denmark cap against Portugal in the UEFA Nations League play-offs.
Seven years Kristensen’s junior, Frankfurt teammate Oscar Hojlund has a long way to go yet before he can follow the Leeds-owned defender into the senior Danish squad.
Yet, the younger brother of Manchester United’s £64 million centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund is keen to make full use of Kristensen’s experience for as long as they are sharing a dressing room together in Germany.
“It’s great to have him [at Frankfurt],” Hojlund tells Tipsbladet. “He is a super good mentor and was also [a big talent] early in his career. We get along really well.
“He’s like another big brother to me, so I’m incredibly happy to have him at the club.”
Oscar Hojlund, an energetic central midfielder in contrast to his penalty-box poaching brother, joined Frankfurt from Copenhagen during the same transfer window in which Kristensen put pen to paper.
Given that the ex-Roma loanee is due to return to Elland Road in a few months’ time, Kristensen’s future is anything but certain right now. Frankfurt are hoping to agree a deal with Leeds United at a knockdown fee of £6.5 million.
That would see Leeds take a £3.5 million loss on the fee they paid Red Bull Salzburg, and is also less than the sum both clubs agreed upon when including an option-to-buy clause in Kristensen’s contract a year ago.
“He’s expected to leave this summer so it’s a case of when, not if,” Leeds reporter Graham Smyth explained this month. “It feels very likely it will be Frankfurt. They want to keep him. That one will happen.
“Very surprising if he goes anywhere else. He’s gone.”
Eintracht Frankfurt keen to tie down Elland Road man on a permanent deal
Young Hojlund, meanwhile, is not the only Frankfurt player hoping to see Kristensen stick around, potentially to represent The Eagles in the Champions League providing they can maintain a top-four spot until the end of May.
Kristensen has struck up an understanding with Hugo Ekitike. The in-form centre-forward who finished off the chances he served up in successive matches against Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim at the beginning of 2025.
“I love him,” Ekitike smiles, “He’s a good player. Rasmus gave me the perfect pass [against Hoffenheim] and all I had to do was push it over the line.
“Hopefully we’ll do that more often.”
Sporting director Timmo Hardung insists keeping Kristensen in Germany is the plan. Music to Ekitike’s ears.
“We’re trying,” Hardung said when asked about the prospect of keeping Rasmus Kristensen at the Commerzbank Arena. “We have him here until June 30th and we know about his quality.
“It’s no secret he’s become a big factor off the pitch too. He’s just a good guy who fits in very well with us in the team and the club.
“Let’s work on it. We still have until June 30th at least. We’ll definitely have his qualities [until] then.”
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