Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United enter transfer hunt for Reims striker Hugo Ekitike amid interest from Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle
According to Goal (h/t The Sun), Manchester United have entered the transfer race for Reims ace Hugo Ekitike, with the young striker picking up interest from several other Premier League clubs ahead of the summer.
Ekitike has been a revelation for Reims this season, standing out in Ligue 1 as an exciting young talent who has the potential to make it big in the near future. Although the French side has not excelled this term in the competition, the forward has been a shining light for them.
It is easy to see why, given that the teenager has bagged 10 goals in 23 appearances this season across all competitions, which is an impressive record for a player who is enjoying a breakout season in the first team and catching the attention of other clubs from Europe.
Newcastle United were one of the clubs interested in securing his services in the winter transfer window in January. And there is nothing concrete to suggest that they will not try again in the upcoming summer transfer window, as per The Shields Gazette (h/t The Sun).
Premier League sides in battle for Ekitike
However, they will face serious competition for Ekitike at the end of the season, as other Premier League sides such as United, Chelsea, and Liverpool have registered an interest in signing the starlet to bolster their attack.
It will not be easy to convince Reims to part with their young talent, as the French side is prepared to play hardball and demand around £30m for Ekitike. This comes after the Ligue 1 club already rejected a bid of £29m in the winter transfer window.
Evidently, the English top-flight could be the Reims ace’s next possible destination in the summer given the heavy interest in the player from across the pond. It is a testament to his talent that he has caught the attention of these top sides.
Newly-rich Newcastle are looking to continue their upward rise in the Premier League by signing Ekitike at the end of the season, having missed out on him in January. That, however, did not stop them from improving their defence, by landing Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, and Matt Targett.
United meanwhile, are in need of a younger replacement in attack for 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 35-year-old Edinson Cavani. It is not known how long either star will last at the club beyond the summer, so it becomes more of a priority for the Red Devils to sign someone for the future.
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At 19, the Manchester side would not expect him to lead the line straight away, but could potentially view him as an asset for the coming years. That said, losing such a talented player to a rival could prove to be disastrous in the future, so efforts need to be put in to convince Ekitike that Old Trafford is the right place for him.
The Ligue 1 talent may not be the biggest name in Europe right now, and that is something that can bother a few fans. After all, we need a striker that can slot in right away and lead our line for the near future if Marcus Rashford doesn’t become ten Hag’s go-to man for that. But then again, potentially signing Ekitike may be better than not addressing our forward issues and signing no one at all.
