Man Utd Battles Chelsea and Liverpool in €100 Million Race for Elite Striker

Manchester United have emerged as the newest contender showing interest in Eintracht Frankfurt's prolific forward Hugo Ekitiké.

The French striker, aged 22, had an impressive campaign in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists, which has placed him on the radar of several major European clubs looking to strengthen their attacking options.

While Chelsea has been frequently mentioned in connection with Ekitiké, and Liverpool has also expressed interest, Frankfurt's CEO Markus Krösche has made it clear they will only consider offers that meet their valuation of €100 million (£85.2 million, $115.8 million).

According to Sky Sports Germany, the latest development involves United making contact in recent days to explore the possibility of acquiring Ekitiké during the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils are seeking a dedicated striker following their acquisition of Matheus Cunha who, despite being capable of playing as a forward, is likely to be deployed in an advanced midfield role in Ruben Amorim's system after his £62.5 million ($85 million) transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Previously, United had been strongly linked with Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres—a player familiar to Amorim from his tenure at the Portuguese club—but recent changes regarding the Swedish forward's situation have apparently prompted United to consider alternative targets.

While Ekitiké is reportedly eager to advance his career this summer, Frankfurt remains in a strong negotiating position. The young striker is tied to the club until 2029, having only completed a permanent move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer for approximately €16.5 million (£14.1 million, $19.1 million).