The summer transfer window has brought with it another fierce Premier League tug-of-war—this time for the signature of emerging French striker Hugo Ekitike. However, both Chelsea and Liverpool may be forced to look elsewhere as Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt refuse to soften their stance on the prolific 22-year-old.
Ekitike, who netted 22 goals and tallied 12 assists across all competitions last season, has quickly become one of the most sought-after young strikers in Europe. His clinical finishing and creative versatility have drawn admiring glances from elite clubs, with Liverpool initially seen as frontrunners to sign him.
But Chelsea entered the race aggressively this week, hoping to outmaneuver their Premier League rivals and bring Ekitike to Stamford Bridge. The club has already been active in the market, notably triggering a £30 million release clause to sign Liam Delap from Manchester City following Ipswich Town’s relegation. Yet, their pursuit of Ekitike has hit a major roadblock.
According to reports from SBNation, Frankfurt have set a staggering nine-figure asking price for the young forward—demanding at least £100 million. Negotiations with both Premier League clubs have stalled as the German side shows no signs of relenting. Attempts by Chelsea to negotiate a lower fee have reportedly failed, putting the entire deal in jeopardy.
The standoff has left both clubs re-evaluating their options. Chelsea are said to be considering a move for SC Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa, a rising Ligue 1 talent, while Liverpool are keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen’s star playmaker Florian Wirtz and Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo.
While Ekitike’s future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Frankfurt are determined to retain their prized asset unless their valuation is met in full. With the window still open and both Chelsea and Liverpool in search of attacking reinforcements, the coming weeks could see further twists in one of this summer’s most intriguing transfer sagas.
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