Hugo Ekitike: Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea & Man Utd suffer transfer blow | OneFootball

The Premier League clubs tracking Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike could wind up disappointed this summer if the Bundesliga side's financial situation doesn't drive a sale.

Ekitike, who has reignited his career since swapping Paris Saint-Germain for German football in 2023, has emerged on the transfer radars of several English teams seeking fresh energy up front.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all in the market for a striker and Ekitike is considered a cheaper alternative than the likes of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres.

But while Frankfurt have never ruled out selling star names for the right price – Randal Kolo Muani and Omar Marmoush are two such examples within the last couple of years – they might not be pushed into selling Ekitike simply to help balance the books.

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sport Germany has reported that if Frankfurt qualify for next season's Champions League, revenue will start at €25m and potentially rise to €60m by reaching the last 16.

Ekitike had been viewed as more affordable than other big name strikers / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

It will help the club to keep the squad together and only one top talent might be sold. As well as Ekitike, 20-year-old Sweden international midfielder Hugo Larsson has attracted attention. In that scenario the negotiating power would remain with Frankfurt, rather than suitors.

Frankfurt still have a couple of different routes into the Champions League at this late stage of the campaign. With only seven games left to play, they sit third in the Bundesliga table, holding a healthy five-point advantage of Borussia Monchengladbach in fifth.

They are also among the favourites to go all the way in the Europa League, a competition they won in 2022. In addition to the trophy itself, the prize is automatic entry into the Champions League league phase. Frankfurt will face Tottenham Hotspur over two legs in the quarter-finals this month.