Manchester United have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of French striker Hugo Ekitike, with reports now suggesting that his club, Eintracht Frankfurt, may soften their stance on the hefty £85 million asking price.
The 22-year-old forward has become a leading target for Erik ten Hag and United’s recruitment team as the club seeks a dynamic new No. 9 to spearhead their attack.
After missing out on Liam Delap and facing difficult negotiations for Viktor Gyökeres, Manchester United have turned their attention to Ekitike.
The French U21 international has been in sensational form for Frankfurt, scoring 22 goals and contributing 12 assists in 48 appearances last season.
His performances go far beyond stats, however — standing at 6’3″, Ekitike is a complete forward with exceptional technical skills, pace, and intelligence.
He can drop deep to link play or stretch defenses with his clever movement and acceleration, making him a modern striker much like Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.
Despite interest from several top Premier League clubs — including Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Arsenal — United are currently the only side to have initiated direct contact with Frankfurt.
They’ve also opened discussions with the player’s representatives, who are reportedly pushing for a move to England.
Interestingly, it’s been revealed that Ekitike grew up a Manchester United fan, which could give the Red Devils an edge in negotiations.
The major stumbling block so far has been the price tag. Frankfurt, having lost Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in January, initially demanded a fee of €100 million (£85m) for Ekitike.
This valuation is well beyond United’s current budget, especially after committing around £62.5 million for Matheus Cunha and actively negotiating a similar deal for Bryan Mbeumo.
However, fresh updates from TBR Football claim that Ekitike’s camp has informed interested clubs that a deal could be struck for less than the quoted price, hinting at a potential drop in Frankfurt’s asking fee.
It’s important to note that, while contact has been made with the player and his agents, no agreement has been reached between Manchester United and Frankfurt.
There’s also been no scheduled medical or official confirmation of a transfer.
Any circulating claims of a “deal being sealed” are premature and currently inaccurate.
Still, this development could prompt United to accelerate talks, especially with Premier League rivals lurking.
If Frankfurt do lower their demands, a formal offer from Old Trafford may soon follow.
For now, though, the deal remains in the early stages, with cautious optimism building behind the scenes at United.
