Hugo Ekitike was compared with both Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe this seasonplaceholder image
Hugo Ekitike was compared with both Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe this season | AFP via Getty Images
Man Utd are in the market to sign a striker in the summer transfer window.
United have prioritised the addition of a striker this summer and have gone back to the drawing board after they missed out on a move for preferred target Liam Delap. They also held an interest in Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres but view a move as unlikely due to the fact he would rather join Arsenal instead.
Ekitike is viewed as another appealing option for the striker role at Old Trafford, though it is understood Chelsea and Liverpool both also have an interest in his signature. United could have a relatively free run at the 22-year-old though, given Chelsea have already signed Delap, Liverpool are set to spend big on Florian Wirtz, while Arsenal are more likely to sign either Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko.
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How much would Hugo Ekitike cost
Manchester United are well aware a move for Hugo Ekitike would not come cheap, as Eintracht Frankfurt consider a huge sale in the summer window. It is understood the Bundesliga club want a similar fee to the £59 million Man City paid for Omar Marmoush during the January transfer window, while it has been reported they could even demand as much as £85 million for his signature.
Frankfurt have indicated they would be open to a flexible transfer agreement, though, and could be convinced to receive his transfer fee in a series of installments that would reduce the initial outlay for United. That would be similar to the deal to sign Matheus Cunha, which will see his £62.5 million release clause paid across three separate summer transfer windows.
United are adamant they will not overpay for signings this summer and have little interest in entering protracted talks that could drag on throughout the window. Ruben Amorim also feels he shouldn't have to fight to convince players to move to Old Trafford and that they should only be signed if they are convinced of the project. Ekitike netted 22 goals and notched 12 assists in 48 appearances for Frankfurt last season and is understood to be open to a summer move.
Talks are still ongoing over a deal to sign Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo, with United considered favourites for his signature despite serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
Neymar and Mbappe comparisons
It wouldn't be a Manchester United summer transfer window without the mention of Wesley Sneijder, who was infamously linked with a move to the club every day for about five years in a row. Spoiler alert: he never did join.
Hugo Ekitike enjoyed one of his best performances of the season when he inspired Eintracht Frankfurt to a 2-1 win over Ajax in the Europa League, a match Sneijder was working on as a pundit.
Speaking afterwards, the former Ajax and Inter Milan star piled the praise on the forward and made an outrageous comparison. “I might say something really crazy, but I’ll say it anyway: I think he’s a mix between Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappé. I sincerely think so.”
“He has the grace of Neymar, but also the movements of Mbappé. To suddenly accelerate, that’s something that Mbappé also has. And he’s only 22 years old. There’s really a lot of potential in this boy.”
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