Fabrizio Romano confirms Hugo Ekitike rejected Manchester United in favour of Liverpool
Hugo Ekitike has been one of the standout transfer stories of the summer. The young French forward, who impressed at Eintracht Frankfurt after his stint with PSG, has had several top clubs circling. Among them was Manchester United, who reportedly made contact with the player’s representatives earlier in the window.
United were hopeful of securing a rising talent to reinforce their attacking options, especially with the need for a reliable goal scorer growing increasingly urgent. Despite the presence of Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee, both have yet to convince as consistent threats in front of goal.
Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that Manchester United did try to enter negotiations but were ultimately sidelined by the player’s firm preference. Here is what Romano revealed on his YouTube channel
“They had the chance to enter for Ekitike, but that was not possible because the player only wanted to go to Liverpool.”
Lack of urgency or just too far behind?
This summer, United have already invested in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, two versatile forwards who are more comfortable playing behind a traditional striker rather than leading the line themselves. That’s exactly why Ekitike, a true centre-forward, had been on the club’s radar.
Yet despite the opportunity, United missed the chance to land the 23-year-old. While Liverpool pounced swiftly, United’s indecision seems to have cost them. It is even more frustrating when you consider that Ekitike had once openly declared himself a Manchester United supporter. That affinity could have been the decisive factor, had United acted quickly.
Unfortunately, the reality for the Old Trafford faithful is a stark one. With no European football next season and a 15th-place finish in the league, United are no longer the irresistible pull they once were. In contrast, Liverpool offered Champions League football and a stable, winning project under Arne Slot. Theres a gap to be bridged by Ruben Amorim in the coming seasons.
Where we stand today
Manchester United’s inability to sign Hugo Ekitike isn’t just a one-off miss; it’s symptomatic of deeper issues. Once feared and revered across Europe, The Red Devils’ now struggle to lure even self-confessed fans of the club.
While it’s understandable that Champions League football is a major draw, it’s worrying how quickly rivals like Liverpool can step in and wrap up deals that United hesitate on. The board’s indecisiveness, coupled with lack of a clear recruitment plan, could once again leave the club scrambling for a solution in the dying days of the window.
Ekitike might not be a guaranteed world-beater, but letting him walk into the arms of your fiercest rival, when he once admired your badge, should sting. United’s recruitment needs to be sharper, faster, and more ambitious if they truly want to rebuild. Because for now, the best talents are choosing elsewhere.
Either way, we are still in the market for a striker this summer and hopefully the recruitment team can end the window on a high.