Manchester United cannot afford to pay the £85 million that Eintracht Frankfurt will reportedly demand to part ways with Hugo Ekitike in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Football Insider, Hugo Ekitike is the subject of interest from Manchester United. Chelsea and Liverpool are also keen on signing the Eintracht Frankfurt striker in the summer transfer window. Those two clubs may have a clear run at the Frenchman, as the Red Devils cannot afford to pay £85 million to sign him from the Bundesliga club.

The rapid rise of Hugo Ekitike in Germany

Hugo Ekitike has come leaps and bounds since joining Eintracht Frankfurt from Paris Saint-Germain last year. The Bundesliga club initially signed the French striker on loan in February 2024 before completing a permanent move in the subsequent summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old was exceptional in the 2024/25 season, contributing to 34 goals in 48 outings across all competitions by finding the back of the net 22 times and providing 12 assists. Meanwhile, Ekitike’s progress in Germany has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United.

A man in demand

Chelsea signed Liam Delap earlier this month, but the Blues are not done yet and want to sign another striker before the summer transfer window shuts down. So, Ekitike has emerged as a target for the West London club, although recent reports have claimed that they have set a fee limit to land the Frenchman.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s interest in Hugo Ekitike makes sense. Darwin Nunez will likely depart from Anfield in the summer transfer window. In addition, Diogo Jota faces an uncertain future at the Merseyside club after a dreadful 2024/25 campaign. So, Liverpool must sign a striker in the coming weeks, with Ekitike an option worth considering.

As for Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were not prolific in the final third in the 2024/25 season, and Ruben Amorim wants a better first-choice striker for his team. So, Ekitike has emerged as a viable target for Manchester United. However, the Red Devils do not have the means to afford Eintracht Frankfurt’s price tag of £85 million to sell the Frenchman.

The price tag of £85 million is also posing an issue for other suitors, and Manchester United may not be the only club that cannot afford a big-money deal to sign Ekitike. However, as things stand, a summer move for the 22-year-old French striker is unlikely.