Hugo Ekitike could end up being a cheaper transfer than Viktor Gyökeres, as Manchester United receive price updates on both strikers.
Manchester United are looking to add firepower to their squad this summer after a disappointing 2024/25 season that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League, with their lack of goals proving costly throughout the campaign.
Bruno Fernandes ended the season as the club’s top scorer with 19 goals, followed by Alejandro Garnacho and Amad with 11 each. Rasmus Højlund chipped in with 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 confident about reaching an agreement for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, though Tottenham are attempting to hijack the deal for the Cameroon international.
Meanwhile, United are still looking for a new centre-forward. Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres had been a prime target, but with the striker now favouring a move to Arsenal, United have shifted their focus to other potential options in the market.
Gyökeres’ transfer continues to be a saga
Every summer, United seem to be involved in at least one dramatic transfer saga, and this time around, it appears to be Gyökeres, with the player currently embroiled in a major dispute with his club, Sporting.
Reports earlier this year claimed the Portuguese club had an agreement to let the Swede go for a total fee of just under £60 million, but earlier this month the club’s president came out and claimed this was never the case, which angered the striker and his agent, completely breaking the relationship.
Now, Portuguese outlet A Bola have revealed that Sporting are demanding £68 million for the player this summer, and “not a penny less.”
It is further explained that while Arsenal and Juventus are the two teams most likely to try and prize the player away from Sporting, Atlético Madrid, Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, and United are “very attentive” to the situation.
Ekitike could become cheaper than Gyökeres
As for the other targets United have said from Gyökeres, one name that has been continually linked to Old Trafford is Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
Previous reports have stated that the Bundesliga club are demanding £85 million for the 22-year-old Frenchman, but this may be lower.
According to The Times, although Frankfurt are under no pressure to sell Ekitike, the objective with respect to his transfer fee is to secure one similar to the £63 million they obtained from selling Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in January.
If Ekitike’s transfer fee falls closer to this and Sporting are flat-out demanding at least £68 million for Gyökeres, signing the young French talent over the Swede this summer looks a no-brainer.
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