Viktor Gyokeres’ potential move to Manchester United may be scuppered by a new interest in Hugo Ekitike. The board have been backing Ruben Amorim heavily in the forward department, with one signing already announced and interest in many other attacking players to help fix their problems in front of goal.
Viktor Gyokeres to Manchester United Potentially Off With Hugo Ekitike Interest
United Make Contact With Frankfurt
Florian Plettenburg has revealed that Manchester United have now “officially entered the race” for Hugo Ekitike. They have reportedly expressed “concrete interest” in the striker and have already contacted his club, Eintracht Frankfurt. Die Adler have a track record for getting output from strikers such as Ekitike’s countrymen, Randal Kolo Muani and Sebastien Haller, and others like Luka Jovic.
Liverpool and Chelsea are reportedly still in the race, with the price tag set at a steep £85 million. United’s newfound interest in the striker suggests that they may have given up on their pursuit of Gyokeres, despite his release clause sitting at the same price. However, movement for that deal has slowed, as it has been revealed that the Sporting Lisbon board are refusing to honour their promise of a £55 million exit fee.
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Perhaps the price for Gyokeres is higher than the Red Devils are willing to pay for a 27-year-old; maybe they would rather pay a higher fee for a player five years younger.
Ekitike’s All-Round Talents Could Be the Key
Ekitike could be the perfect player to tie together Amorim’s front-line, combining with other summer business to become the league’s most dangerous attack. In the 2024/25 season, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee brought two completely different play-styles, neither of which worked. Zirkzee liked to drop deep and create play, whilst Hojlund was more of a poacher.
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However, Ekitike could be the key here. He combines pace and finishing ability with the option to move into a role that involves more link-up-play, to be the all-round striker. Despite Omar Marmoush’s departure from the club in January, Frankfurt still finished 3rd and Ekitike managed 34 goal contributions in all competitions.
This, alongside the arrival of Matheus Cunha and potentially Bryan Mbeumo, could make for one of the most deadly attacks in the league, with pace, goals, and creativity from all angles.
