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

“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.