Manchester United and Arsenal have been put on red alert after target Hugo Ekitike named them his ‘favourite club’. The Frenchman has been strongly linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford or the Emirates Stadium.
Ekitike gave Premier League fans a first glimpse of his talent by scoring a hat-trick in France U21s’ 5-3 victory over England last Friday. The 22-year-old could be scoring frequently on these shores if a top-flight team pays Eintracht Frankfurt’s valuation this summer. United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been linked.
His excellent form for Eintracht has caught the attention of clubs around the world. He has scored 19 goals across all competitions this season, including 13 in the Bundesliga. Eintracht have helped Ekitike flourish after he endured a tough spell at Paris Saint-Germain.
Man Utd bosses might even be intrigued to learn that Ekitike supported the Red Devils when he was growing up in France. Asked on Eintracht’s YouTube channel which club was his ‘favourite’ when he was little, Ekitike was quick to respond: “Manchester United.”
United are expected to sign a new centre-forward in the summer transfer window. Rasmus Hojlund recently ended a 22-game goal drought but could face increased competition at the top of the pitch next season. Meanwhile, at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has struggled without a recognised No. 9 for most of the campaign.
There is a wide-ranging belief that Eintracht will demand £67million for Ekitike in the summer. It is not too dissimilar a valuation to the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins, two strikers who have also been linked with summer moves. Alexander Isak, the Newcastle striker also attracting interest, will likely cost a club closer to a nine-figure sum.
Ekitike first burst onto the scene as a teenager for French club Reims. He was first linked with a move to the Premier League after scoring 11 goals in a breakthrough 2021-22 campaign. After an underwhelming second season in northern France, he moved to PSG but found game time hard to come by due to the Parisians’ plethora of talent.
A loan switch to Eintracht was made permanent last summer. The Bundesliga outfit could now benefit with several top European teams set to bid for new strikers in the summer. The demand for prolific forwards will mean Eintracht can demand a huge fee.
United are set to spend carefully in the summer but several departures will make a couple of expensive deals possible. Arsenal will also work to a tight budget but will have room to upgrade their centre-forward position.
