Manchester United faces costly battle for Hugo Ekitike: Premier League giants compete

Manchester United has escalated its pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, who has impressed with 19 Bundesliga goals. With Liverpool and Chelsea also in the race, the transfer is shaping up to be a high-stakes, expensive showdown this summer.

Sources:
The GuardianGoalCaughtoffside+1
Updated 2h ago
Tab background
Sources: The GuardianGoalCaughtoffside+1
Manchester United is intensifying efforts to sign Hugo Ekitike, the 22-year-old striker currently at Eintracht Frankfurt, as the club seeks to bolster its attacking options after a goal drought last season.

Ekitike, who scored 19 goals in 47 Bundesliga appearances since joining Frankfurt on loan in February 2024, has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs. However, Manchester United stands out as the only club to have made direct contact with Eintracht Frankfurt, while rivals Liverpool and Chelsea have only engaged with the player's representatives.

The French forward, who signed a five-year deal with Frankfurt last April for around £14 million, has a career total of 50 goals in 151 games and is also a France Under-21 international.

United's manager, Ruben Amorim, is eager to add firepower after struggling with current forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee during the 2024-25 season.

"Ekitike is an option for Manchester United, he’s a player appreciated by the club," said a source familiar with the situation, noting that Christopher Vivell, now at Old Trafford, has Bundesliga experience and is monitoring developments closely.

Despite the interest, the deal is expected to be expensive and competitive, with Liverpool and Chelsea also keen, especially if Darwin Nunez departs Liverpool this summer.

Ekitike has expressed longstanding admiration for Manchester United, adding a personal dimension to the club's pursuit.

As talks continue, Manchester United awaits clarity on the striker's situation, balancing ambition with the financial and competitive challenges of securing the sought-after forward.
Sources: The GuardianGoalCaughtoffside
Manchester United is engaged in a costly pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, 22, who scored 19 Bundesliga goals last season. The Premier League club has made direct contact with Frankfurt, competing with Liverpool and Chelsea for the French forward amid a pressing need for attacking reinforcements.
Section 1 background
Key Facts
  • Hugo Ekitike signed a five-year deal with Eintracht Frankfurt in April 2024 for around £14m.The Guardian
  • Ekitike scored 15 goals for Frankfurt in the 2023-24 season and has 19 goals in 47 Bundesliga appearances.2The Guardian
  • Manchester United, under Ruben Amorim, struggled for goals in the 2024-25 season and sought attacking reinforcements.2Goal
  • Manchester United held exploratory talks and made direct contact with Eintracht Frankfurt regarding Ekitike in mid-2025.2Goal
  • Liverpool and Chelsea have shown interest in Ekitike, contacting his representatives but not the club directly.Goal
  • Christopher Vivell, now at Manchester United, has Bundesliga experience with Ekitike, adding to United's interest.Caughtoffside
  • Ekitike publicly expressed admiration for Manchester United, calling it his favourite childhood club.Goal
  • The transfer race for Ekitike is expected to be expensive and highly competitive among top Premier League clubs.Caughtoffside
Manchester United are monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s striker, Hugo Ekitike, as a potential recruit.
The Guardian
The Guardian
Man United hold talks with Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike - sources - Rob DawsonJun 17, 2025, 03:03 AM Share - - - Open Extended Reactions have held exploratory talks with representatives of striker , sources have told ESPN, as they widen their search for attacking reinforcements.
ESPN India
1
Plettenberg additionally reported that Manchester United are so far the only club to have made 'direct contact' with Eintracht Frankfurt over Ekitike. Fellow suitors Liverpool and Chelsea are said to have only been in touch with the player's representatives, and not his club, up to now.
Goal
Goal
Let’s see what’s going to happen there, but at the moment, again, the deal is not considered easy. It will clearly be expensive, and there is competition there from Liverpool and from Chelsea, so it’s just contact at the moment between the parties while Manchester United wait to clarify the striker’s situation.
Caughtoffside
Caughtoffside
Key Stats at a Glance
Ekitike's transfer fee
£14m
The Guardian
Ekitike's Bundesliga goals
19 goals
The Guardian
Ekitike's Bundesliga appearances
47 Bundesliga appearances
The Guardian
Ekitike's goals last season
15 goals
1
Article not found
⌂ CuriousCats.ai

Article

‹

Source Citations