HUGO Ekitike is the poor man’s Alexander Isak.
But Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike is not only available for at least £50m less than Newcastle star Isak – he may also end up being an even better player.
Liverpool and Arsenal are still dreaming of a move for Alexander Isak[/caption]
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike could be a terrific backup plan[/caption]
That’s why both Liverpool and Arsenal are looking seriously at the French frontman whose excellent debut season in Germany helped fire Eintracht back into the Champions League.
And if Newcastle stand firm on their stance that Isak is not for sale at any price, not even a British-record-obliterating £150m or more, then splashing out “just” £86m on Ekitike would make perfect sense.
After all, Newcastle almost signed him before they bought Isak.
Make no mistake – Isak remains THE dream summer signing for both the Reds and the Gunners.
First and foremost, because the Sweden international has proved in three seasons in the Premier League that he is exactly the kind of multi-talented centre forward both clubs need.
On the one hand, Isak’s goals and all-round contribution were a big factor in Newcastle qualifying for the lucrative Champions League.
So, in theory, they have no need to sell and can quote fees that no suitor is willing to pay.
Yet Isak’s success also feeds his own personal ambition. What if, at the age of 25, this is his best chance to sign for a club that can compete for the biggest prizes in club football?
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Newcastle are willing to give Isak, whose current contract still has three years to run, a decent pay rise from his current £120,000 per week if he will sign a new deal.
Arsenal and especially Liverpool could give him much more, though.
And if Isak refuses to commit himself or cuts up rough about an alleged promise from Newcastle that they would sell him for a certain fee this summer, cashing in on him would become more attractive.
So Arsenal and Liverpool will not give up on Isak just yet, not with nearly two months of the transfer window to go.
But they would be negligent if they WEREN’T considering Ekitike as a strong alternative and arguably the better buy.
Because in his height and physique, his ability to dribble and link play, and his all-round capacity to link play and create openings for others, as well as to score goals, he has plenty in common with Isak.
Newcastle almost signed Ekitike months before they spent an initial £60m on Isak in 2022.
Ekitike, then at Reims, turned down a deadline day move to St James’ Park in the winter window.
Newcastle were interested again in the summer, but the forward chose to join PSG on an initial loan in July, with Isak arriving in the north east of England the following month.
Isak has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top players[/caption]
Ekitike was previously on the books at PSG[/caption]
Eintracht have a vested interest in talking up the comparison between Isak and Ekitike, of course. And Ekitike’s stats are generally not as impressive as Isak’s.
Yet there are admirers who believe that Ekitike has a higher ceiling and could end up becoming one of the best strikers in the world.
Ekitike is tall, at almost 6ft 3in, yet has excellent feet and speed, like the Swede.
His debut season in Germany, after his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain was made permanent, was impressive – 15 goals and eight assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances.
Which compares favourably to Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko, who managed 13 and five in the same number of games – albeit in an inferior RB Leipzig side.
Ekitike and Omar Marmoush formed a formidable partnership for Eintracht until Marmoush left for Manchester City in January.
But it wasn’t a case of Marmoush making his sidekick look good.
Ekitike scored nearly half his league goals (seven) and more than half his assists (five) AFTER main man Marmoush played his last game for the club.
He also caught the eye in the Europa League, even before his excellent long-range goal against Tottenham in the quarter-final first leg.
Although Isak’s goalscoring record is superior to Ekitike’s, the Frenchman creates more for others and could be considered a more complete player.
It is no secret Eintracht are a selling club. They sold Randal Kolo Muani to PSG in 2023 for £64.2m, before signing Ekitike on loan from the French club the following February.
In January this year, Eintracht accepted a deal worth up to £64m for Marmoush.
Every player at the big club in Frankfurt, Germany’s banking capital, has his price.
But Eintracht have not yet spent all the Marmoush money.
So they are more than happy to hold out for the 100m Euros (£86m) they believe Ekitike is worth in the current market.
There are reasons for Liverpool, Arsenal and others to think hard, of course.
Ekitike has had just one good season in a big five European league – a bit like Premier League flops Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
While his 15 goals – level with Marmoush, who played just over half the season, and 11 behind leader Harry Kane – are another slight cause for concern.
Isak, with 23 PL strikes, was second only to Mohamed Salah.
Even Ekitike’s cheerleaders at The Transfer Flow podcast and bulletin point out that, for a big lad, Ekitike is not great at heading. Nor is Isak, but Sesko definitely is.
They also note that Ekitike gets knocked off the ball easily and his off-the-ball work against teams with better defences is not elite.
Yet they still identified him as the striker who should be Liverpool’s top target – even at £85m.
If Arsenal decide to go for an out-and-out goalscorer, maybe Viktor Gyokeres would be a better option.
But if the Gunners and the Reds want an all-round centre forward like Isak – and they do – then Ekititke would be a great back-up candidate.
And at a much lower price, could even turn out to be the better long-term option.
