Manchester United will have one eye on Eintracht Frankfurt’s transfer business with Hugo Ekitike wanted at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s centre-forward pursuit appears to be ramping up amid confusion over Bryan Mbeumo.
Brentford star Mbeumo had been United’s top target after Matheus Cunha finalised his move to Old Trafford.
Tottenham Hotspur now want Mbeumo, with former Bees boss Thomas Frank keen on a reunion in North London.
That hold-up may leave United to focus on other targets, with a centre-forward potentially key to Ruben Amorim’s summer rebuild.
Speculation over United’s interest in Viktor Gyokeres continues, but United may instead focus on Hugo Ekitike.
Hugo Ekitike in action for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Eintracht Frankfurt agree to sign Manchester United target amid Hugo Ekitike chase
Reports last week suggested that United had made contact to sign Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Frenchman has become a key target for United after showing huge potential in the Bundesliga.
More United News
Ekitike hit 15 Bundesliga goals last season having completed a permanent move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ekitike won’t come cheap, but United will be fascinated to hear that Eintracht Frankfurt are now closing in on a new striker.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reports that Mainz 05 striker Jonathan Burkardt has agreed terms on a move to Eintracht.
Dino Toppmoller’s side are now in talks to thrash out an agreement with Mainz, in the hope of having Burkardt on board quickly.
Eintracht are only offering €20million (£17million) as things stand, with Mainz holding out for a higher fee.
United will be watching very closely, especially as Eintracht already have strikers Elye Wahi, Igor Matanovic and Michy Batshuayi on the books.
Manchester United have also eyed Jonathan Burkardt
United may hope that Eintracht’s move for Burkardt means they are at least thinking about life after Ekitike.
A deal will still cost United a huge fee, but it will inspire some hope that an agreement can be thrashed out.
Intriguingly, United have also eyed a move for Burkardt, as we reported on United in Focus back in March.
Burkardt hit 17 Bundesliga goals last season and now seems ready to leave Mainz for a big move this summer.
Eintracht appear to be leading the race, and the German could inadvertently help United land Ekitike, having been eyed for a move to Old Trafford himself.