Manchester United’s hunt for the perfect striker in the summer is not going to be easy given the club’s poor form and current financial predicament.
What Ruben Amorim would have ideally liked was a reunion with Sporting CP protege Viktor Gyokeres but the Swede is desperate to keep playing Champions League football and he does not feel the Red Devils can offer him that.
Victor Osimhen has no such demands but his wages and Napoli’s asking price could prove too much for United. Which is why Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap has emerged as a low-cost alternative.
Another striker on their wishlist is Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt whose form this season has caught the fancy of plenty of clubs.
Ekitike interest
The 22-year-old has 19 goals and eight assists this season, and his impressive hat-trick for the France U21 international team against England had everyone talking.
The German side are obviously aware of the interest the “diamond” is generating which is why they have slapped a £67 million price tag on his head.
He still has four years left on his current deal, which is why Frankfurt are in an advantageous position and as per Givemesport, they have no plans of lowering their demands.
As a result, the 20-time English league champions will find it hard to acquire the supremely-talented Frenchman this summer.
Frankfurt’s demands beyond United’s reach
“Manchester United are increasingly unlikely to lure Hugo Ekitike to Old Trafford when the transfer window reopens for business as the Eintracht Frankfurt star’s price tag is on course to be out of their reach as they go in search of fresh firepower, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.
“Manchester United are facing a major stumbling block in their pursuit of Ekitike, according to GMS sources, as they will not be able to table an offer which meets Eintracht Frankfurt’s £67million demands and could be forced to turn their attentions towards alternative options when the transfer window reopens in the summer.
“The striker still has four years remaining on a contract which allows him to pocket in excess of £80,000-per-week when bonuses are triggered, resulting in his current employers being in a strong negotiating position and under no immediate pressure to lower their valuation in the coming months.”
A huge summer window awaits the club and it will be intriguing to see how INEOS handles it and who ultimately comes in. Amorim desperately needs more help thats for sure.
Feature image Alex Grimm via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
