Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt (Image: Icon Sport via 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 stance, held firm on their €70million (£59m) valuation of Omar Marmoush in January, a move that paid off when Manchester City eventually met the asking price for the Egyptian player. Notably, Frankfurt already had Ekitike lined-up as a replacement for Marmoush, but with Paris Saint-Germain holding a 20% sell-on clause, the German club is keen to drive a hard bargain to maximise potential profit.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have all been linked with the 22-year-old, who scored a hat-trick for France U21s against England during the international break. Newcastle, who nearly signed Ekitike twice in 2022 while he was at Stade Reims, could also rekindle their interest if they decide to sell Alexander Isak at the end of the season.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool have Isak on their radar, but prising the Swedish player away from St James' Park could prove challenging, especially if Newcastle secure a Champions League spot. Insiders close to Randal Kolo Muani are hinting that the player might exit Eintracht Frankfurt soon, with England touted as a probable destination.
A £60 million deal is being whispered about, but Frankfurt are reportedly keen on igniting a bidding frenzy that could push the price even higher. United, facing financial constraints, may find it challenging to meet such a valuation without significant player sales.
However, they have an edge in the race for Ekitike's signature, as he grew up supporting the Reds. With an impressive tally of 19 goals and eight assists this season, the forward is expected to end the campaign on a high note.
Premier League outfits are already reaching out to his representative, Karl Mwalako Buchmann, to gauge the financials of a potential transfer. During Ziggo Sport's broadcast of Ajax's Europa League clash with Frankfurt, Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder heaped praise on the French talent.
"I'll tell you, I've seen a lot of this boy," Sneijder said. "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."
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