Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all want one of the hottest properties in this summer's transfer window, but the Red Devils may hold a key advantage over their rivals
19:44, 29 Mar 2025
Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike has been in stunning form for Eintracht Frankfurt this season(Image: Getty Images)
Eintracht Frankfurt are set to play hardball with Premier League clubs over in-demand striker Hugo Ekitike this summer.
The Bundesliga side, known for their tough negotiating tactics, stood firm on their €70million (£59m) valuation of Omar Marmoush in January. Their resilience paid off, as Manchester City eventually met their asking price for the Egyptian forward.Frankfurt had Ekitike ready to step into Marmoush's shoes, but with PSG holding a 20% sell-on clause, the German club is keen to drive a hard bargain to maximise their potential profit.
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Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been linked with the 22-year-old hotshot, who scored a stunning hat-trick for France U21s against England during the international break.
Newcastle, who narrowly missed out on signing Ekitike in 2022 when he was at Stade Reims, could also rekindle their interest if they decide to sell Alexander Isak at the end of the season, reports the Mirror.
MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 08: Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt reacts after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt at Borussia-Park on February 08, 2025 in Moenchengladbach, Germany.
Hugo Ekitike has been a huge success in Germany(Image: Pau Barrena/Getty Images)
Both Liverpool and Arsenal have Isak on their radar, but prising the Swedish striker away from St James' Park could prove challenging, especially if Newcastle secure a spot in next season's Champions League.Insiders close to Ekitike are suggesting that the player might be on his way out of Frankfurt soon, with England tipped as the probable next stop. With an impressive tally of 19 goals and eight assists this season, he's expected to end the year on a high note.
A hefty £60m deal is being whispered about, but Frankfurt, fresh from their 2022 Europa League triumph, are reportedly keen on sparking a bidding frenzy that could push the price even higher.
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United, who are watching their finances, might find it tough to cough up such an amount without significant player sales.
However, despite languishing in 13th place in the Premier League - way behind title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal - the fallen giants have an edge in the race for Ekitike's signature. That's because the forward has been a lifelong fan of United.
A number of Premier League outfits have already been in touch with the player's representative, Karl Mwalako Buchmann, eager to get a sense of the figures involved in a potential transfer.
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During Ziggo Sport's broadcast of Ajax's Europa League loss to Frankfurt, Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder couldn't help but heap accolades on the French talent.
Sneijder was effusive in his praise for Ekitike, stating: "I'll tell you, I've seen a lot of this boy. Now, I may say something really crazy, but I'll say it anyway: I think he is a mix between Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe. I sincerely mean that."He has that grace from Neymar but also the movements of Mbappe. Suddenly accelerating that's something Mbappe also has and he is only 22 years old. There is really a lot of potential in this boy."