Manchester United are now in the race to sign Hugo Ektitike just 18 months after dodging a move for the striker.
Rasmus Hojlund only joined Manchester United two years ago, but the striker now finds himself under major pressure.
The Dane only scored four Premier League goals last season and looked completely bereft of confidence by the end of the season.
Joshua Zirkzee looked more impressive as a number 10 last season, so United may need to add another striker this summer.
Chelsea have beaten United to Liam Delap’s signature and the drama surrounding Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres continues amid interest from Ruben Amorim.
United may need to explore other targets in attack and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is emerging as a real option.
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesManchester United snubbed Hugo Ekitike in 2024
Reports last week suggested United had made contact to sign Ekitike from Eintracht in a potentially huge move.
The Frenchman won’t come cheap and reports suggest Eintracht are seeking a fee of around £85million for Ekitike.
United were impressed with Ekitike last season as he hit 15 Bundesliga goals in 33 appearances for Eintracht.
Tall, fast and rangy, Ekitike is incredibly skilful and merely scratching the surface of his potential right now.
The fee required for Ekitike would likely make him United’s biggest signing of the summer, despite turning down the chance to sign him in 2024.
As noted by Absolut Fussball in Germany, Paris Saint-Germain offered Ekitike to United before the transfer deadline in January 2024.
However, United and Erik ten Hag turned down the chance to take Ekitike, paving the way for him to join Eintracht in a bargain move.
Ekitike was available on loan with a view to a permanent deal, which eventually cost Eintracht just €16.5million (£14million), as noted by BBC Sport.
Fast forward just 18 months and Ekitike will now cost around six times that price tag, if Eintracht stick to their demands.
United did not seize the chance to sign Ekitike in 2024 and now face paying a premium to finally bring him to Old Trafford and boost Amorim’s attacking options.
Hugo Ekitike has bounced back from Paris Saint-Germain frustration
In United’s defence, Ekitike had struggled with PSG.
After joining on loan from Reims in 2022, Ekitike completed a permanent move to stay in the French capital.
Ekitike managed just three league goals in his first season and was completely frozen out by PSG after Randal Kolo Muani’s arrival.
When United were called to weigh up a move for Ekitike, the striker had gone five months without a single first-team game.
United may have felt that Ekitike just wouldn’t have the time to get up to speed and make himself a force in the final months of United’s 2023-24 season.
Ekitike scored four times in 14 league games on loan for Eintracht, convincing them to invest in his potential for the future.
Just a year on, Eintracht are commanding an enormous profit having also made big money on Omar Marmoush and the aforementioned Kolo Muani in recent times.
Ekitike deserves huge praise for bouncing back after his disappointing spell with PSG, and now looks to be better-prepared to shine for United having benefited from development in Germany.