Man United contact new striker target after Viktor Gyokeres picks rival Premier League club as his No 1 preference – but major stumbling block threatens to scupper move
Manchester United have posted interest in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike after being made aware Viktor Gyokeres would prefer to join Arsenal.
Ekitike is valued at £80million and Chelsea and Liverpool are also among the 22-year-old’s admirers, although his price tag is prohibitive.
He scored 22 goals in 45 games for Frankfurt last season and was previously on the books at Paris Saint-Germain, who sold him for close to £14m in 2024.
The France U-21 international finished the campaign as Frankfurt’s top scorer in the Bundesliga, tied with Omar Marmoush, who left for Manchester City in January.
United head coach Ruben Amorim had targeted a reunion with Gyokeres after his side finished a lowly 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final.
But the Red Devils’ hopes of signing the in-demand Swede look to have faded and as a result, they could turn their attention to Ekitike, despite his hefty valuation.
Manchester United have posted interest in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Viktor Gyokeres would prefer to join Arsenal and United have set their sights elsewhere
Ruben Amorim wants to sign a new frontman after his goal-shy side finished 15th last season
In a potential boost for United, Ekitike was asked which club was his ‘favourite’ as a child and he quickly responded: ‘Manchester United’.
Arsenal are understood to be maintaining dialogue with Sporting over Gyokeres although RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko remains their No 1 target.
Should they fail to strike a deal with Leipzig, they could revert to Gyokeres, who scored an incredible 54 goals in 52 appearances for his club last season.
The 27-year-old also has interest from Juventus and clubs in Saudi Arabia.
United, who have no European football to offer their targets this summer, are continuing to work on a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo.
A first bid of £55million for the 25-year-old was rejected earlier this week.
Reports have indicated that Tottenham, who have officially unveiled Thomas Frank as their new head coach, would look to hijack the move.
United also admire Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who is on Spurs’ radar, too.
