Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is one of the most in-demand talents in world football, with Chelsea and Liverpool both keen on a move for the 22-year-old
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08:28, 13 Jun 2025
Eintracht Frankfurt's sporting CEO Markus Krosche in May 2025
Eintracht Frankfurt's sporting CEO Markus Krosche is playing hardball over Hugo Ekitike
(Image: Sebastian El-Saqqa - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Eintracht Frankfurt CEO Markus Krosche maintains the club don't need so sell Hugo Ekitike amid Premier League interest. Liverpool and Chelsea are both keen on the French frontman, who has been valued at around £85million.
The Bundesliga side cashed in on Ekitike's former team-mate Omar Marmoush in January, with the forward joining Manchester City in a £59m deal. They still finished third, thanks in no small part to Ekitike's goals, and booked a return to the Champions League next term.
“If the price isn’t right, then he’ll just stay with us," Krosche told Wiesbadener Kurier when discussing the player. "We don’t have to sell Hugo.”
According to Sky Deutschland, Liverpool and Chelsea both remain in the race for Ekitike. However, it appears neither will be able to get a discount on the former Paris Saint-Germain striker.
Wiesbadener Kurier reported earlier in the week that Frankfurt are keen on Mainz's Jonathan Burkardt as they look to bolster their attacking ranks. The German international could join Ekitike rather than replacing him, though, with Mainz after a fee north of £25m.
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Reims-born striker Ekitike burst onto the scene as a teenager with his hometown club, prompting PSG to fork out around £30m to bring him to the Parc des Princes. They took a significant loss when selling him on to Frankfurt in 2024, but the frontman's next move could come for substantially more.
Ekitike initially moved to Germany on loan in January 2024, helping Dino Toppmoller's team finish sixth in the Bundesliga. A permanent switch followed, and 15 of his 22 goals this term came in the league as only Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen finished ahead of Toppmoller's side.
Hugo Ekitike reacting during an Eintracht Frankfurt match
Hugo Ekitike could still be an Eintracht Frankfurt player next season
Chelsea have been busy this month, making a number of signings ahead of their Club World Cup campaign. They weren't able to wrap up a deal for Ekitike in time, though, while fellow targets Jamie Gittens and Mike Maignan have also stayed put for now.
Enzo Maresca has been able to include three new arrivals in his squad, though. Liam Delap is involved after joining from Ipswich Town, with Dario Essugo, Mike Penders and Mamadou Sarr also part of the 28-man squad, while there's also a chance for Aaron Anselmino - signed last summer - to make his competitive debut for the Blues following a loan spell at former club Boca Juniors.
Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign gets underway on June 16, when they take on Los Angeles FC in Atlanta, with games against Flamengo and Esperance to follow. LAFC were last-minute additions to the competition, winning a play-off against Club America to take the place of Leon in the draw.
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