Manchester United have reportedly joined a host of clubs trying to sign highly-rated Reims striker Hugo Ekitike in the summer.
The Red Devils opted against making additions to their squad in the January transfer window, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick happy to work with the players at his disposal. Instead, the club loaned out the likes of Anthony Martial, Donny Van de Beek and Amad Diallo until the end of the season for them to get regular game time.
According to 90min, Manchester United and Chelsea scouts were amongst the dozen in attendance to see Hugo Ekitike in action against Bordeaux last weekend. Reims smashed Bordeaux 5-0, with Ekitike opening the scoring for the hosts in the 40th minute.
Ekitike, 19, joined the Reims youth setup from Cormontreuil FC in 2013. After spending the last campaign on loan at Danish top division side Vejle Boldklub, where he had registered three goals in 11 appearances, the Frenchman broke into the Reims senior squad this term.
The teenager has made quite an impression in what is his breakthrough campaign, bagging nine goals and two assists in 19 Ligue 1 games. Ekitike’s goal-scoring exploits and potential has alerted a number of clubs, including Newcastle United, who failed to sign him from Reims on the January deadline day.
Hugo Ekitike to Manchester United—A smart long-term investment?
Manchester United’s profligacy in front of goal in recent games—against Middlesbrough and Burnley—ended up hurting them big time. Their failure to put away clear-cut chances has once again turned the attention to the Red Devils’ ageing strikers.
Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo are without a goal in 2022 and are coming to the end of their careers. With Cavani’s contract up at the end of the season, Ronaldo slowing down considerably in recent years, Mason Greenwood suspended for the foreseeable future due to off-field matters and Anthony Martial’s Old Trafford future in doubt, the hierarchy are being sensible in exploring potential options.
Reims starlet Hugo Ekitike has emerged as a target for Man United following his rapid rise in stature in Ligue 1. He is currently the highest-scoring teenager in any of Europe’s top five leagues after scoring nine times since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.
At such a tender age, Ekitike has shown a knack of putting the ball in the back of the net with great ease and poise. It is a testament to the young Frenchman’s calmness and composure in front of goal. Standing at 6ft 2ins tall, he is a real handful in the box and likes to harry and hassle the defenders with his intense pressing from the front.
Due to his unique skill-set of pace, power and agility, the teenager will be an excellent option for Man United to pursue in the summer as he will add a lot of quality to their attacking ranks. At 19, Ekitike’s best years are clearly ahead of him which makes him a perfect, long-term acquisition for the Red Devils.
