{"id":153631,"date":"2025-06-03T02:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T02:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/153631\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T02:13:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T02:13:10","slug":"chelsea-accelerate-efforts-to-sign-60m-arsenal-and-liverpool-target-in-recent-hours-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/153631\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea accelerate efforts to sign \u00a360m Arsenal and Liverpool target ‘in recent hours’ | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Real
\n\t\tHugo Ekitike is firmly on Chelsea\u2019s radar this summer (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Chelsea<\/a> have ramped up their pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt<\/a> striker Hugo Ekitike in the last few hours, according to reports in France.<\/p>\n

Ekitike joined Eintracht on a permanent basis from PSG<\/a> last summer and the 22-year-old hit new heights across an eye-catching Bundesliga campaign, notching 15 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances.<\/p>\n

The forward earned himself plenty of admirers with his goalscoring exploits in his first full season in German<\/a> football and speculation has been mounting that a big-money move could be around the corner.<\/p>\n

Arsenal and Liverpool have been keeping close tabs on Ekitike\u2019s progress<\/a> and both clubs are believed to have made initial enquiries over a proposed bid for the Frenchman<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But according to L\u2019Equipe<\/a>, Chelsea have attempted to steal a march on their Premier League rivals by accelerating their efforts to sign the attacker \u2018in recent hours\u2019.<\/p>\n

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The report claims Ekitike is considering his future and mulling over his options after being ruled out of France\u2019s European Under-21 Championship campaign with a back problem.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s understood Eintracht are aware of the strong interest in Ekitike and have responded by slapping a \u00a360million price tag on their prized possession.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Sport-Club
\n\t\tEktike is reportedly available for \u00a360m this summer (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"FBL-GER-BUNDESLIGA-MAINZ-FRANKFURT\"
\n\t\tThe Frenchman scored 15 league goals for Eintracht last season (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Ekitike\u2019s current contract in Frankfurt runs through to June 2029.<\/p>\n

Eintracht would be in line to make a significant profit from the sale of Ekitike considering they signed the striker from PSG for a fee of around \u00a314m last summer.<\/p>\n

In a recent interview with Sport1<\/a>, Eintracht\u2019s sporting director, Markus Krosche,\u00a0confirmed Ekitike could be allowed to leave if the club\u2019s demands are met by a potential suitor.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Ipswich
\n\t\tDelap\u2019s move to Chelsea will be confirmed imminently (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s one of the most interesting strikers on the European market,\u2019 Krosche said.<\/p>\n

\u2018Hugo has to decide that [his future]. I\u2019m glad we have him.<\/p>\n

\u2018If he decides otherwise, that\u2019s our belief: if a player develops faster than us, then we let him go \u2013 as long as our demands are met.\u2019<\/p>\n

Chelsea are targeting Ekitike in addition to Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who is set to be announced by the west London giants imminently.<\/p>\n

Delap has agreed to a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge and joins the Europa Conference League winners for a fee of \u00a330million.<\/p>\n

The Blues are eager to strengthen their attack with the addition of one or two genuine difference-makers to ease the pressure on Nicolas Jackson, who managed just ten league goals last term.<\/p>\n

Dario Essugo, 20, became Chelsea\u2019s first signing of the summer<\/a> on Sunday, with the 20-year-old midfielder joining on an eight-year contract from Sporting.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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