Manchester United are gearing up for a crucial summer transfer window, and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly willing to invest heavily to bring in reinforcements.
Signing a striker is a priority for United, given their well-documented struggles in the final third, and Eintracht Frankfurt centre-forward Hugo Ekitike is one of several players on their radar.
According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, a summer move for Ekitike is not entirely off the table, but Frankfurt want a premium fee to sanction his exit.
The Germans are adamant that it will take a fee of at least €80 million (£67m) to lure him away from Deutsche Bank Park this summer.
Frankfurt are understandably reluctant to part ways with Ekitike just 18 months after signing him from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Ekitike failed to impress in the French capital and was forced out of the club, but he has reinvented himself in Germany and is now considered one of the most talented strikers on the continent.
That reputation was strengthened following his performances for the French Under-21 side during the international break.
Before jetting off to represent Les Bleuets, the 22-year-old had already turned the heads of many European clubs after notching 19 goals and eight assists in 38 games across all competitions.
He then bagged a hat-trick for France’s youth side in the 5-3 victory against England despite being on the pitch for just over an hour.
Ekitike is spearheading Frankfurt’s push for Champions League qualification, bagging 13 goals and four assists in 25 Bundesliga outings.
His numbers have been too hard for onlookers to ignore, and Frankfurt are gearing up for the possibility of a summer raid.
United need a prolific striker to lead the line, especially with their £64m investment in Rasmus Hojlund proving futile.
The 22-year-old has scored just 24 goals in 82 games for United, and there are rumours that he could be the first to leave this summer amid interest from clubs in Italy.
Given that their move for Joshua Zirkzee has also failed to yield positive fruits, United cannot afford to get it wrong again this summer.
