![\"FBL-GER-BUNDESLIGA-MAINZ-FRANKFURT\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2212847108_9487bb.jpg\")
\n\t\tHugo Ekitike is firmly on Arsenal\u2019s radar this summer (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tHugo Ekitike is firmly on Arsenal\u2019s radar this summer (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Arsenal<\/a> have stepped up their interest in Eintracht Frankfurt<\/a> attacker Hugo Ekitike, with club bosses growing increasingly frustrated in pursuit of their primary attacking targets.<\/p>\n The Gunners are intent on signing an out-and-out number nine this summer having received widespread criticism for their inactivity over the last two transfer windows.<\/p>\n The loss of both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to injury last season<\/a> only amplified calls for Arsenal to strengthen in the transfer market and there is mounting pressure on sporting director Andrea Berta<\/a> to find a solution up front.<\/p>\n Viktor Gyokeres, 27, has been placed at the top of Arsenal\u2019s wishlist<\/a> on the back of an exceptional season in Portuguese football, in which he scored 54 goals in 52 games to help Sporting win a domestic double.<\/p>\n However, Sporting\u2019s flat-out refusal to lower their demands for Gyokeres has complicated Arsenal\u2019s pursuit of the prolific Swede, prompting the Gunners to strongly consider RB Leipzig\u2019s Benjamin Sesko as an alternative.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Arsenal everyday\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s Football Newsletter. <\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your team in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.<\/p>\n But Arsenal have encountered similar difficulties in their attempts to hash out a deal for Sesko, 22, with Leipzig rejecting the north Londoners\u2019 opening bid worth around (\u00a346.8m) \u2013 plus \u20ac10m (\u00a38.5m) add-ons<\/a> \u2013 for the Slovenia international.<\/p>\n It\u2019s understood the Bundesliga outfit are holding out for an offer of between \u20ac80m and \u20ac100m\u00a0(\u00a368m and \u00a385m) for their star striker.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t According to German publication Bild<\/a>, this has led Arsenal to \u2018suddenly\u2019 turn their attentions to Ekitike, who enjoyed an eye-catching first full season with Eintracht last term.<\/p>\n The report claims Ekitike is a \u2018serious\u2019 option at the Emirates and the 23-year-old Frenchman will come to the fore should the Gunners give up hope of landing either Gyokeres or Sesko.<\/p>\n As has been the case with both Gyokeres and Sesko, though, Ekitike\u2019s asking price could prove problematic as Eintracht are said to be demanding an eye-watering fee of \u20ac100m (\u00a385m) from potential suitors<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018If the price isn\u2019t right, then he\u2019ll just stay with us,\u2019 Eintracht sporting directorMarkus Krosche told\u00a0Wiesbadener Kurier<\/a> when quizzed on Ekitike\u2019s future earlier this month.<\/p>\n \u2018We don\u2019t have to sell Hugo.\u2019<\/p>\n While Krosche has refused to rule out the possibility that Ekitike could leave, he insists a sale will only be possible Eintracht\u2019s demands for the \u2018exceptional\u2019 striker are met in full this summer.<\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s one of the most interesting strikers on the European market,\u2019 he added.<\/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 \u2018Hugo is an exceptional player who played a major role in our qualification for the\u00a0Champions League,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n \u2018He certainly still has a lot of potential for development as he\u2019s only 22 years old.\u2019<\/p>\n Ekitike \u2013 who has also attracted interest from Liverpool and Chelsea in recent months \u2013 is tied into a contract at Eintracht until June 2029.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"SL](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2216350890.jpg\")
\n\t\tSporting have been playing hardball for Gyokeres (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"RB](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2213454615.jpg\")
\n\t\tArsenal failed with their opening offer for RB Leipzig\u2019s Sesko (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Sport-Club](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2215628138_3d63bb.jpg\")
\n\t\tEkitike\u2019s goals helped steer Eintracht to Champions League qualification last term (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\nMORE: Sporting dig out Man Utd star in new Viktor Gyokeres message to Arsenal<\/a><\/p>\n