Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike. The Gunners are said to be in pursuit of signing the France under-21 international with Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta’s side continue to be linked with attacking additions this summer as part of a restructure of the squad, in order to take their challenge for the Premier League summit a step further. Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and highly-rated RB Leipzig prospect Benjamin Sesko have been mooted as targets for the Gunners but reports suggest that little progress has been made.
In a report from German outlet BILD, Arsenal have entered the hunt to sign Ekitike as one of the alternatives to Gyokeres or Sesko.
Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta is also said to be ‘considering’ former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez as well as Ekitike, but the Argentine only made the move to the Spanish capital to play for Atletico Madrid last summer.
It has been claimed that the new Gunners chief and Arsenal do not want to splash out on an £84 million-rated forward, but if they can’t manage to strike a deal for Gyokeres or Sesko and a higher sum would be needed, Ekitke will then become a possibility.
However, there is Premier League competition in the form of the Premier League champions, Chelsea and United.
BILD claim that Liverpool have held talks with Ekitke’s representatives and have let it be known that an attacking addition is among the priorities.
Despite winning a second top-flight crown in five years, Liverpool have been active in the transfer market – spending over £200m with Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez among the attacking additions at Anfield.
The L4 club face apparent interest in some of their current attacking force with Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez all rumoured to have potential suitors.
Saudi Arabian clubs have been linked with some of the Premier League winners’ players and Nunez, in particular, faces a precarious future on Merseyside.
Reports suggest that his future lies away from the Premier League with Serie A champions Napoli interested in a possible deal as they look to recoup some of the hefty fee they paid Benfica for his services.
The speculation suggests that if a deal for the Uruguayan can be struck, it will open the door for Liverpool to enter the market for a replacement with Ekitike dubbed a cotender to fill the void.
Any deal for the 23-year-old is likely to cost a significant sum with Eintracht Frankfurt demanding €100million (£85m) for his services.
“He’s one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that,” the Bundesliga club’s sporting director Markus Krosche said.
“I’m glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that’s our motto: If a player develops faster than us, we let him go.”
