Arsenal zone in on attacking Bundesliga star to fix goal-scoring woes | OneFootball

Given their attacking woes this season, it's no surprise that Arsenal are looking to add a new striker to their squad in the summer. But who are they after? Well, according to a report by journalist Jack Rosser, the Gunners are eyeing a move for Eintract Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitiké. The report states that he's valued at roughly £60 million.

This comes off the back of suggestions that Arsenal might be reluctant to pursue Alexander Isak now due to his eye-watering asking price. The same report claims that Newcastle United are looking for upwards of £150 million for their star striker. When looking at his contributions in the Premier League this season, that figure seems easier to justify. Isak has smashed in 19 top flight goals for the Magpies thus far in just 25 appearances. And of course, he played an integral role helping the side in their EFL Cup final victory over Liverpool earlier this month.

It's not hard to understand why Arsenal held an interest in the Swedish international. But pivoting to Ekitiké isn't the worst idea. The French attacker is enjoying a great season with Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, spearheading their charge towards a top four finish. He has 13 league goals in 25 appearances for Die Adler, which is a huge improvement on his stats from last term. Ekitiké only bagged four goals in 14 top flight games in the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign. Now, he looks like a completely different player.

How Arsenal could do with a player like that now. The Gunners are 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool in second, winning just one of their last four top flight games. Mikel Arteta's side have also registered far fewer goals than their Merseyside rivals this term. They're currently sitting on 53 goals from 29 games, while the Reds have bagged 69 in the same period. Bridging that gap may be too much before the season ends, but a move for Ekitiké in the summer could make a significant difference going into the next campaign.

Having said that, Arsenal might be facing a bit of a fight for Ekitiké's signature when the transfer window opens. According to Rosser's report, Manchester United and Chelsea have also shown a strong interest in the French striker. Can the Gunners win the race? It'll be interesting to see how this story develops once the season comes to a close in May.