Arsenal ramp up interest in €80m striker of interest to Premier League rivals | OneFootball

Arsenal are thought to be leading the competitive race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt's sought-after striker Hugo Ekitike, according to a report in Germany.

The Gunners and Premier League rivals Liverpool have been tracking the towering French number nine as a more affordable alternative to Newcastle United's Alexander Isak. While Ekitike doesn't boast the same Premier League pedigree as the Sweden international, his riotous form for Frankfurt this term has nudged him into the conversation as one of the world's most promising strikers.

Frankfurt are resigned to losing Ekitike in summer, according to BILD, having also recently sold Omar Marmoush. Arsenal's interest is described as "hot" and the Gunners are billed as the Frenchman's most likely destination, ahead of Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester United at this stage.

Ekitike is expected to command a fee of €80m (£66.9m), with the sum Manchester City paid for Marmoush used as a guideline. Encouragingly for any Ekitike suitors, the forward's form has not taken a severe dip since Marmoush decamped for the Premier League.

The 22-year-old has racked up seven goals and two assists in the 13 club games since the Egypt international's departure, directly contributing to one goal every 113 minutes compared to his average of one every 107 minutes while in tandem with Marmoush.

Arsenal are in desperate need of a recognised centre-forward. The finishing quality of both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz was called into question long before the pair picked up season-ending injuries. Jesus is unlikely to be back to full fitness until 2026, leaving Arsenal with just the mercurial German as a central option.

Mikel Arteta's side tried and failed to prise Ollie Watkins away from Aston Villa during the January transfer window. The England international is no longer thought to be on the club's radar, leaving Isak as Arsenal's "priority" target. Porto's Samu Aghehowa, Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig and Sporting CP's in-demand Viktor Gyokeres have also been floated.