With Andrea Berta in control of operations, it’s become increasingly clear that Arsenal will spend big on a striker this summer.
Since Mikel Arteta was given the job as Arsenal’s new manager back in 2019 the Gunners have made 34 signings in total.
However, only two of those were for strikers – Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
Arteta desperately wants a number nine and Arsenal want Alexander Isak first and foremost in an ideal world.
However, Newcastle might convince Isak to stay, meaning that Berta and his team will need to explore other options.
And whilst Berta has recommended a striker to Arsenal, one different name keeps being linked with the club.
Arsenal target Hugo Ekitike expected to leave Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike’s reputation seems to be growing by the week right now, a 22-year-old who just scored a hat-trick against England under-21s in a 5-3 win.
Arsenal are interested in Ekitike who is thriving in the Bundesliga this season after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer in search of first team opportunities.
READ MORE: The £16m player Mikel Arteta begged Arsenal to sign who could now end the Gunners’ season
The Frenchman has 19 goals in 38 appearances and his time with Eintracht is widely regarded as something of a stepping stone before he joins another big club.
That being said, journalist Fabrizio Romano has just shared news on X that Ekitike is ‘expected to leave’ Eintracht in the summer, stating that clubs had already started calling.
Romano stopped short of naming the Premier League sides who had been in touch, but it’s not unfathomable to imagine that Arsenal might be making enquiries.
Sharing the news on X, Romano wrote: “Hugo Ekitike, expected to leave Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer after the excellent season he’s having.
“Premier League clubs already started calling for the French striker ahead of the summer transfer window.”
Hugo Ekitike might be a smarter deal than Benjamin Sesko
Interestingly, Arsenal fans were urging the club to sign Ekitike a month or so ago, a striker who seems to be on the cusp of something big.
Newcastle United tried to sign Ekitike in the past, a number nine who will now cost a sizable amount for interested sides.
The Frenchman now has a €80m (£67m) release clause that will likely need to be paid in full this summer for a striker who does have a very complete game.
Perhaps had Ekitike stayed at PSG for their new era, without the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, he might actually be thriving for the Parisiens today.
But PSG’s loss could yet still be Arsenal’s gain, and Ekitike does seem like a clever alternative to Isak who might be unattainable this summer.
And say it quietly but the 22-year-old might even present a better overall profile than Benjamin Sesko – a name that is already very popular in north London.
