If a ship’s sinking, the quality of the prow is going to do little to drive things forward, no matter how well made. For Manchester United, there is Rasmus Hojlund, who perhaps feels a little ‘hung out to dry’ after his wretched campaign as Erik ten Hag and then Ruben Amorim’s central striker.
Signed from Atalanta for a lofty £72m in 2023, the 22-year-old Hojlund was pronounced to be a “monster in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, but he left plenty to be desired after his maiden term in the Premier League.
But four goals last season and routine struggles to showcase his ability have reduced Hojlund to ignominy, and rumours are mounting that he will return to Serie A this summer.
This is for the best, for Man United need to freshen up the ranks and are indeed gearing up to raid one of several clubs for their star striker.
Man Utd's striker targets
Man United have been dealt a blow in their efforts to reunite Amorim with Sporting Lisbon superstar Viktor Gyokeres because the Swedish goalscorer reportedly favours a move to Arsenal.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but after finishing 15th in the league and losing the Europa League final, it’s understandable. Gyokeres is 27, after all.
Instead, INEOS could launch an offensive on Napoli for Victor Osimhen, with ESPN claiming United have turned their attention to the Nigerian striker and could make a formal offer in the coming days. Osimhen has a €75m (£64m) release clause and is also wanted by Al Hilal and Galatasaray.
Having scored 37 goals from 41 matches on loan with Gala last year, Osimhen would certainly prove an upgrade on Hojlund, but United actually appear ready to push down a different track.
Man Utd in contact to sign Osimhen and Gyokeres alternative
As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Man United are now ramping up their move to sign Hugo Ekitike.
They have been in contact with the player’s entourage over the weekend, expressing ‘concrete interest’ in the Frenchman, having already been locked in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt.
While Frankfurt are holding out for €100m (£85m), the 22-year-old’s reps have informed suitors that their client may actually be available for a cheaper fee when push comes to shove.
It’s worth noting Liverpool and Chelsea remain firmly in the race, but with the Premier League champions yet to have offloaded Darwin Nunez and the Blues sounding out alternatives, Jason Wilcox and Co could use this opportunity to strike now.
What Hugo Ekitike could bring to Man Utd
Ekitike scored 22 goals and laid on 12 assists across 48 matches in his first full season for Frankfurt, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to claim “he could definitely reach world-class striker levels.”
Technically sharp and skilful on the ball, Ekitike also ranked among the top 4% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, highlighting his pace and dribbling ability.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent’s goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
Because of this, it’s surely no surprise the French forward has been labelled “the next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey in the past, with the Les Bleus superstar’s matchless athleticism and energy buttressing a deadly goalscoring ability.
But in actual fact he could prove to be Man United’s new version of Anthony Martial, one who might instead be less inhibited by injuries.
After several bitter years as an outlying member of the Man United squad, the 29-year-old Martial has been rehoused in Greece with AEK Athens, where he has enjoyed a resurgent campaign, scoring nine goals and providing two assists across 23 matches.
But he was once a phenomenon, arriving in the Premier League a sharp and fast forward whose pace and power saw him thrive out on the wing or in a more central striking berth.
The same is true for Ekitike, though he is clearly favoured as an out-and-out striker. Given that Martial fell largely because of persistent injury bother, he might prove to go one step further than the former Red Devils star and become a major player for many years, sustaining a high level of performance.
In the modern market, United will have to pay a premium for such a player as Ekitike, but they did the same with another French forward way back when, and in the earlier stages of his career in England, it looked like the Glazers had, for once, received bang for their buck.
Looking at Martial’s 2019/20 Premier League campaign, when he scored 17 times across 34 appearances, also assisting seven goals, he was at the peak of his powers, and you can see how he matches up against Ekitike over the past year for Frankfurt.
Could it be that the current hotshot has the superior skillset? That he could use his athletic and technical qualities to outstrip even the finest version of Martial?
Goals scored
0.53
0.58
Assists
0.28
0.21
Shots taken
4.00
2.71
Shot-creating actions
3.55
3.43
Touches (att pen)
6.88
5.38
Progressive passes
1.86
2.81
Progressive carries
3.27
2.61
Successful take-ons
1.83
1.71
Ball recoveries
3.06
1.51
Tackles + interceptions
0.81
0.69
As you can see, both players across the respective seasons produced sustained performances to write home about, but Ekitike’s movement, energy and tenacity can be observed through his recoveries, his command of the box and his multi-facetedness.
No amount of revisionism will strip away the memory of Martial in his pomp, bursting onto the scene as one of the most prodigious talents about, hailed as a “Ferrari” who looked “like a £100m player” by pundit Owen Hargreaves back in 2020.
Clearly, then, he was once in the same sphere as Ekitike, probably even above his compatriot.
Emerging from Monaco’s talent factory a few years before Mbappe, it’s easy to see why Martial was held in such high regard, with his early years depicting a player capable of conquering the world.
Ekitike was reared in a different part of France, but he’s got the dynamic qualities to emulate his countryman and become a superstar at Old Trafford, one who could lead the much-needed revival.
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