picture alliance

Liverpool likely to beat Manchester United to the services of £84m French star

Originally posted on We All Follow United
By Rohit Sarkar | Last updated May 30, 2025 10:46 AM ET

Liverpool are ahead of Manchester United in the pursuit of Hugo Ekitike

With the summer transfer window fast approaching, English clubs are already moving swiftly. Those needing reinforcements in attack, after paying the price for their shortcomings in recent seasons, are expected to be the most active. Manchester United have long found themselves in that exact predicament.

The absence of a dominant number nine has cost them dearly. While Rasmus Højlund has shown flashes of promise, he’s yet to fully convince as the long-term solution. Meanwhile, other Premier League giants are sharpening their strategies and making early moves in the market. One name rising fast on the radar is Hugo Ekitike.

According to The Sun, Liverpool have now officially entered the race to sign the Eintracht Frankfurt striker. The German club have slapped a price tag of £84 million on the Frenchman, aware of the growing interest. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United have all been monitoring him for weeks, but Liverpool appear to have stolen a march, opening formal talks and pushing to get ahead in the race.

In a squad that so often lacks spark in the final third, Hugo Ekitike could have offered something different, not necessarily as a saviour, but as a weapon capable of tipping tight games. More than the player himself, missing out on him sends a broader signal that Manchester United continue to trail more proactive and decisive rivals.

Of course, some might argue the price is steep for a forward who has yet to prove himself consistently at the top level. But that doesn’t erase the uncomfortable truth, while Liverpool are acting with hunger and clarity, United appear hesitant and disjointed. The gap isn’t just in transfers; it’s in ambition, timing, and strategy. And that, more than anything, is where the real concern lies.

The move could ultimately prove to be a game changer. While Liverpool are making tangible strides, Manchester United remain conspicuously silent, an absence of action that is beginning to unnerve their supporters. In a transfer market where hesitation is punished, every decision, or lack thereof, carries weight.

Missing out on the 22-year-old might not seem catastrophic on the surface, but it would mark a significant strategic blow. The Frenchman possesses a keen eye for goal, operates fluidly between the lines, and excels at exploiting chaotic defences. His combination of pace, movement, and poise in front of goal are exactly the attributes United have been lacking in attack—and ignoring such a profile could prove costly.

This article first appeared on We All Follow United and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: