Man Utd make shock move for Bundesliga striker to surprise of Chelsea and Liverpool

Manchester United have dramatically entered the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, joining Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool in pursuit of the highly rated French forward.

United’s move comes as manager Ruben Amorim looks to overhaul his attacking options, with the club already sealing the signing of Matheus Cunha and pushing for a big-money deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.

Ekitike, 22, enjoyed a standout season in the Bundesliga, scoring 22 goals in 48 appearances for Frankfurt.

His performances have made him one of the most sought-after young strikers in Europe, with a number of top clubs monitoring his situation, it is reported.

According to respected journalist Florian Plettenberg, United made official contact with Eintracht Frankfurt within the last 48 hours, expressing concrete interest and gathering all the necessary information to advance transfer talks.

The competition for Ekitike is fierce. Chelsea have long identified the forward as a priority target and, despite Frankfurt’s €100 million (£84 million) price tag, remain undeterred.

Sources suggest that a fee in the region of £65-70 million could be enough to secure Ekitike’s signature, with Chelsea expected to resume negotiations after the FIFA Club World Cup.

Liverpool are also in the frame, though they have yet to make a formal approach. Their pursuit could intensify if Darwin Nunez leaves Anfield this summer, as has been rumored.

For Manchester United, any deal for Ekitike may depend on player sales due to Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The club is reportedly open to offloading several squad members to create room for a marquee signing up front.

Ekitike himself is said to be open to a new challenge in the Premier League, increasing the likelihood of a high-profile move in the coming weeks.

With United, Chelsea, and Liverpool all vying for his signature, the battle for Hugo Ekitike is set to be one of the major transfer sagas of the summer