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New Manchester United target combines Kobe Bryant’s mentality with admiration for Kylian Mbappé

Originally posted on HITC | By Filipe Guedes | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 5:13 PM ET

Manchester United are keeping tabs on multiple forwards this summer as they prepare for the possibility that Viktor Gyokeres can’t be signed.

While Gyokeres remains United’s top target, with Sporting CP expected to demand around £68 million for the Swedish forward, Ineos haven’t limited the search to just one name. The club is also weighing up alternatives, including Victor Osimhen, who remains a player of interest.

Several other strikers have appeared on United’s radar as well, including one young forward who has drawn comparisons to NBA legend Kobe Bryant – both for his mentality and potential.

The late Bryant, one of basketball’s all-time greats, was famed for his competitive drive and relentless approach to the game. Being mentioned in the same breath is no small compliment, and one Manchester United target has received exactly that kind of praise.

Why Hugo Ekitike has been compared to Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is labelled as one of the greatest in basketball history. His ability to deliver in clutch moments became a hallmark of his career, and this led him to be a five-time NBA champions.

In 2021, GOAL spoke with several people close to Ekitike, and one of his friends made an eye-catching comparison: “He has the mentality of Kobe Bryant in a 19-year-old’s body,” they said. “If you tell him he’s only got 10 minutes left in a game, he’s not going to hide, but take it as a challenge.”

Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images

In terms of football, Ekitike admitted that his main inspiration is one former PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappé. He confessed that the French striker has been the player he watches the most in recent years.

“That’s what it means to be a top-level player, and that’s what I aspire to become. Over the last few years, he is the player I watch the most, who inspires me, and not necessarily only on the pitch.”

Ekitike’s combination of mental toughness and ambition has drawn attention, but the question remains whether he fits what Manchester United need right now.

Manchester United’s interest in Hugo Ekitike

United’s pursuit of Gyokeres hasn’t stopped them from exploring other options. Ekitike is one of several strikers under consideration, though a deal for the Frenchman would be complicated by financial constraints.

Frankfurt reportedly want €100m (£85m) for Ekitike, a price tag that would stretch United’s summer budget with several areas of the squad still needing attention.

Beyond the cost, there are also questions about whether he would fit. Ruben Amorim is believed to want a more experienced and physically dominant No. 9, which isn’t Ekitike’s profile.

While Ekitike could be a smart signing for the future, United may decide that, at this price, it’s a move better saved for another time.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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