Manchester United’s new-era recruitment drive has led them to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
This summer’s striker market has been a seller’s game – and so far, United haven’t been able to call many shots.
Liam Delap joined Chelsea over United despite a strong push, while Viktor Gyokeres – favoured by Ruben Amorim – now looks far more likely to link up with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal than return to work with his old boss.
That’s left Ineos looking at different profiles, and reports in Germany say United have accelerated talks over Ekitike following a promising campaign in the Bundesliga. Multiple sources say that Frankfurt want £85m for his sale.
It’s not without risk. Jason Wilcox and the staff know that this move comes with baggage. The 22-year-old is still raw and nowhere near the finished product – but the numbers say there’s something to work with.
How Ekitike outshone Kane and Wirtz for shot volume
United’s forward line was blunt last season – and Rasmus Hojlund was at the heart of it. The Dane’s confidence dipped, and his output tumbled with it.
He finished the Premier League campaign with just 32 total shots, 13 on target, and four goals – a drop-off that forced United to change their approach.
- READ MORE: Arsenal back off Viktor Gyokeres, but new £60m offer from Italian giants adds pressure to Man United
By contrast, Ekitike fired off 115 shots for Eintracht Frankfurt across the Bundesliga season – the highest tally in the division, topping Harry Kane (110) and Florian Wirtz (78).
The end product was solid, if not spectacular: 15 league goals and 22 in all competitions. But the volume is what stands out. Ekitike was constantly involved, rarely going missing during games – something Amorim values after Hojlund’s isolation up top last year.
Still plenty of work to do, but the ceiling is high
The gap between potential and performance can be wide at Old Trafford, and United have learned that the hard way.
Ekitike is younger and less proven than other targets like Victor Osimhen or Gyokeres, and his finishing needs work. Turning 115 shots into just 15 goals will raise eyebrows, especially after Amorim demanded more ruthlessness from his strikers last season.
But at 22, there’s time for Ekitike to sharpen his composure – and his ability to find shooting opportunities is a rare trait. If United can harness that volume and add efficiency, they might have something special.
It’s a gamble. But sometimes, the best bets come with the biggest upside.
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