Arsenal have asked to be kept informed about Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike’s situation after holding preliminary discussions to sign the striker, TBR Football can exclusively reveal.
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer Ekitike has scored 19 goals in 38 goals for Frankfurt this season, form that has caught the attention of clubs like Arsenal.
The German side are now becoming renowned for developing top forwards in recent years following the success of Randal Kolo Muani and Omar Marmoush – one of the reasons Ekitike chose to join them originally.
And whilst Arsenal retain interest in Kolo Muani, they are also now considering a move for 22-year-old Frenchman Ekitike, who could perhaps act as an alternative target to Alexander Isak.
Arsenal are staying informed about Hugo Ekitike’s situation at Eintracht Frankfurt
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have all asked to be kept up to date on Ekitike’s situation.
Premier League sides were already on Ekitike’s trail when he left Reims for PSG back in 2023, indeed he rejected Newcastle at the time, who have stayed on his trail ever since.
READ MORE: Newcastle ready to make major move in attempt to keep Alexander Isak away from Arsenal and Liverpool
However, the young striker could now get his chance to move to England in the summer.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle were all present in Lorient over the international break to witness France U21s 5-3 victory over England.
And one of the main reasons those clubs were in attendance was to watch Ekitike, who did himself no harm by scoring a hat-trick.
Ekitike demonstrated that he can score all kinds of goals in the win – a striker who Frankfurt are ready to cash-in on.
How much would Hugo Ekitike cost Arsenal?
As it stands the Bundesliga side are demanding just shy of £70m for Ekitike but it is believed that they would be looking at around £60m – the fee they landed for Marmoush when he joined Manchester City.
TBR are told that intermediaries have advised English clubs that any bid north of £50m would likely be enough to sign the striker considering that Frankfurt only played PSG around £15m for him last year.
In terms of Ekitike’s preference, the striker is keen on the idea of moving to England, but his camp are not focusing on one club in particular as things stand.
Perhaps next year being a World Cup year could play a part in Ekitike’s decision – he seems unlikely to join a club where he’s not going to start regularly for example.
The options are open for Ekitike right now, but a move to Arsenal would of course appeal to the striker, who’s showing all the right signs in Germany.
