Arsenal have reportedly identified Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike as an alternative to Newcastle United star Alexander Isak.
Alexander Isak is believed to be the Gunners’ top striker target ahead of the summer transfer window. Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen his offensive department by bringing in Isak, however, Newcastle won’t entertain offers below £150m for their star Swede.
This has led to the North Londoners look for alternative targets. According to an exclusive report from CaughtOffside, Arsenal are now considering a move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike but face competition from London counterparts Chelsea.
Ekitike, 22, is seen as a cheaper alternative to Isak by the Gunners. Since making his move to Frankfurt permanent for €16.5m from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, the Frenchman has impressed, scoring 17 goals and providing six assists in 32 appearances across all competitions. He is now one of the highly-rated forwards in the Bundesliga and has appeared on the radars of several European clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
Hugo Ekitike to Arsenal—Right man for Mikel Arteta?
It is no secret that Arsenal need attacking reinforcements. Gabriel Jesus has not been able to score goals consistently since moving from Manchester City a few years ago. He has been ruled out for the rest of the season and beyond after suffering a serious knee injury in January.
Kai Havertz has performed decently as a false 9 but he is not the clinical goalscorer that would guarantee 25-30 goals per season. Arteta certainly needs an upgrade on both Jesus and Havertz if Arsenal are to win major honours again, and signing Ekitike could prove to be a wise decision for them.
Hugo Ekitike has reignited his career at Frankfurt after failing to get much chances to show his talent at PSG. The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the most clinical goalscorers in the Bundesliga, and he could do a good job for Arteta’s Arsenal side. However, Frankfurt are in no rush to let him leave as he is contracted until 2029 and would demand a fee of at least £60 million in the summer.
Even though the £60 million investment might seem steep right now, Ekitike could end up justifying the outlay in future. The former France Under-21 international is more than a goal-scorer, and he will help create chances for his teammates in the final third as well. The Frankfurt man is a prodigious talent with a bright future and could develop into a world-class striker with the right guidance under Arteta.
With that said, the Gunners must consider going all out for Ekitike’s signature when the transfer window reopens.