Manchester United have swiftly redirected their efforts in the transfer market after being turned down by Viktor Gyökeres. The Red Devils are now seriously pursuing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
Gyökeres had initially been United's top target, largely due to his familiarity with manager Rúben Amorim's tactical approach, having played under him at Sporting CP. However, the strained relationship between Gyökeres and Sporting, coupled with reported interest from Arsenal, has led United to withdraw from the race.
With the added allure of Champions League football, Arsenal is seen as a more attractive destination for Gyökeres. Meanwhile, United's pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo has stalled, as Tottenham Hotspur—now managed by Thomas Frank, Mbeumo’s former coach at Brentford—emerge as the frontrunners.
In light of these developments, Manchester United have turned their attention to Hugo Ekitike. The French striker has been linked with the club since last week, and according to ESPN, more concrete discussions with his representatives and Frankfurt have begun this week.
United are eager to finalize Ekitike’s transfer as quickly as possible, though the negotiations are expected to be challenging. Eintracht Frankfurt have reportedly set a €100 million price tag on the 22-year-old forward.
Adding to the competition, Premier League champions Liverpool are also showing strong interest in Ekitike as they look to revamp their squad.
Whether Manchester United can secure Ekitike’s signature remains to be seen. So far, the club has completed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, while another target, Liam Delap, has opted to join Chelsea instead.
