Manchester United are looking closely at Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike ahead of a potential swoop in the summer transfer window, according to reports. And the starlet would have made up club chiefs' minds for them with a prolific performance against England's Under-21 team on Friday, scoring a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory in Lorient.
Ruben Amorim is strongly expected to prioritise a new goalscorer ahead of his first full season at the helm following a toothless campaign across United's attack. Rasmus Hojlund marked his first year at Old Trafford with 16 goals in all competitions but has suffered a regression in his second, recording just three in 24 Premier League games. Erik ten Hag signed Joshua Zirkzee as a striker last summer, but Amorim prefers him as one of his two attacking midfielders, leaving the Red Devils thin on strikers.
Chido Obi burst onto the first-team scene earlier than expected after the 17-year-old arrived from Arsenal last year due to a lack of options, but there is clearly some development to go.
Ekitike features among the strikers who have been linked with a possible United switch later this year - alongside Viktor Gyokeres, Viktor Osimhen, Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap.
While Delap represented England in Friday's clash and scored, his headed rebound only served as a consolation due to the damage already caused by his French counterpart.
The 22-year-old set the Stade du Moustoir alight with a match-winning hat-trick, first latching onto Rayan Cherki's lofted through ball to dink a seventh-minute effort over the onrushing James Beadle.
Ekitike then combined with Tottenham Hotspur winger Wilson Odobert twice on either side of half-time, flaunting his positional prowess to tap home drilled crosses from both sides.
After struggling to settle at Paris Saint-Germain following a transfer from Reims in 2022, Ekitike joined Frankfurt in a £14million deal last summer after a successful short loan.
He has taken German football by storm this term, plundering 19 goals and registering a further eight assists in 38 appearances in all competitions.
Ekitike's direct goal involvement tally rises to 32 in 42 games when you factor in his international exploits.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Frenchman is expected to leave Frankfurt this summer after drumming up vast interest with his performances.
It's claimed that Premier League suitors have already started initiating contact for his signature ahead of a pursuit.
United would be crazy not to attempt to enter the running for one of Europe's most exciting young goalscorers.
However, the Red Devils' chances of success could rely on whether they have Champions League on offer next season or not.