Manchester United’s fresh stance on signing Hugo Ekitike this summer has been explained, with Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly expecting offers this month.
Manchester United are aiming to rebuild their forward line this summer following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, which ended with a 15th-place finish in the Premier League and ongoing struggles in front of goal.
Bruno Fernandes led the team with 19 goals, while Alejandro Garnacho and Amad each scored 11. Rasmus Højlund added 10, but no other player managed to hit double figures across all competitions.
The club have already completed the £62.5 million signing of Matheus Cunha and remain in active negotiations with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo. Talks are progressing as both sides work toward finalising a deal for the Cameroon international.
United are also seeking a new central striker, but two of their top targets are no longer realistic options. Viktor Gyökeres is closing in on a move to Arsenal after agreeing personal terms on a five-year deal, while Victor Osimhen is set to return to Galatasaray this summer.
With both moves seemingly off the table, United have now shifted their focus to alternative options in the market.
United stance on Ekitike as bids expected this month
Another key option who has been linked with United in the last month or so is 23-year-old Huko Ekitike, who the club have been keeping a close eye on since the beginning of the year.
Although links to a striker have quietened in the last two weeks, with United putting their pursuits on pause as they finalise an agreement for Mbeumo, German transfer expert Florien Plettenburg has explained that the club are still interested.
Plettenberg explained on X that although his current club, Eintracht Frankfurt, is keen to keep the player to boost their chances in the Champions League, they are expecting offers for the Frenchman to surface this month.
It’s expected that, as well as United, Liverpool is a concrete option, while Newcastle have renewed its interest, too. However, his price tag remains around £85 million.
A lot of moving parts will need to happen for Ekitike to sign
Ekitike revealed last season that he is a Manchester United fan, having grown up watching the club. However, although this hands United a potential boost in negotiations, the club are still far from securing the French striker.
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United can currently barely afford Mbeumo, with the two clubs continuing to haggle over a final fee. If this transfer were to go through soon, it would drain their remaining budget, meaning any further signings would need to be secured through sales.
United have options in this department, with Barcelona keen on signing Marcus Rashford, while Garnacho is another high-value player on the transfer list. However, interest in the latter seems a little thin for now.
For United to be able to even consider signing Ekitike, they must offload some of their current stock, which is no easy task, while hoping that Frankfurt do not entertain any other offers in the meantime.
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