Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitikeplaceholder image
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike | Getty Images
Man Utd are yet to conclude the signing of Bryan Mbeumo, a situation that could see them missing out on a potential star.
Manchester United’s transfer window needs to accelerate again and signing Hugo Ekitike would provide fans with the sort of belief that has been sadly lacking.
There are other areas of Ruben Amorim’s team that need to be fixed, but there is no getting away from the fact that there hasn’t been a reliable central striker since a variety of veterans were entrusted with the role.
United have been linked with Ekitike for some time but Newcastle United’s £60m plus offer sees them looking to steal a march on their Premier League rivals and surprise everyone else at the same time. With Alexander Isak already considered one of the best in Europe, why does Eddie Howe need another of the continent’s finest young talents, especially when he usually only plays with one striker?
Man Utd still keen on Hugo Ekitike despite Newcastle move claim
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According to French football journalist Abdellah Boulma though, United are still in the race: “Newcastle and Manchester United remain the most active clubs in the Hugo Ekitike deal. Chelsea, who have shown interest since last winter, continue to monitor the situation closely. Liverpool are taking a back seat, following the player, but not making him a priority. Ekitike, for his part, is open to a move to the PL .”
The problem, is that United have five players who have handed in transfer requests and they need to be offloaded from the wage bill before another player can be signed on big wages. Mattheus Cunha as a £62.5m player as well as Mbeumo for a similar fee and both will be seeing significant pay rises.
Why can’t Man Utd make Ekitike move?
According to Phil Hay, speaking on The Athletic’s football podcast, United’s struggles might be set to continue for some time: “Well, this isn't a newsflash, but it tells us that United's judgment in the transfer market, and in terms of squad building has been pretty dreadful for quite a while now. I mean, I would dispute whether they were ever really worth £250 million. That might have been the price that was paid, but there is definitely a difference.
“And I think in the case of Anthony and Jadon Sancho in particular, they were pretty horribly overpriced, both of them. I also think that the wage given to (Marcus) Rashford, which is massive, doesn't tally with his current standing in the game. It might have done previously, but not now.
“And it's not as if it's simply gone wrong for him on Amorim's watch either. I think the scrutiny on Rashford and the feeling that he might need a fresh start away from Old Trafford. You know, that he didn't look entirely happy, that the body language wasn't right.
“But they're definitely not going to recoup Anthony's fee. They're not going to recoup Sancho's either. It's pretty hard to see how anybody out there is going to pay Rashford's salary in full because it's so big.
“(Alejandro) Garnacho is slightly different. I mean, he should make them if they sell them and they sell them at a good price, he makes them a useful profit, which helps with PSR.”
Rashford has interest from Barcelona and Bayern Munich whilst Sancho is close to a move to Juventus, the issue, as Hay rightly says, is money. Napoli had Sancho as their No.1 target and had to change tact due to the finances involved and it might be that United need to take a massive hit either in terms of transfer fees or by paying a percentage of the players’ wages who the want to leave.
United can be interested in Ekitike and hold talks with Frankfurt, however, until they clear the decks, every other club competing for his signature holds the upper hand.
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