Arsenal and Liverpool have been linked with a cheaper alternative to Alexander Isak as both sides aim to strengthen up front ahead of next season.
Isak has scored 17 Premier League goals for Newcastle United so far in 2024/25, on course to beat his tally of 21 from last season. It has brought unsurprising transfer interest from other clubs.
Newcastle’s reported price tag has varied wildly depending on the source, quoted at a monstrous £150m going into the January transfer window. More recently, it has been claimed to be £83m, but even the lower end of the estimate would be a huge outlay in this era of more careful spending.
It is why the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool are also thought to be considering other options as well.
One such player, according to French publication FootMercato, is Hugo Ekitike.
The 22-year-old has reignited his career since joining Eintracht Frankfurt, where he was a teammate of Omar Marmoush until January, from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024. Ekitike was cast in Kylian Mbappe’s shadow at PSG, but this season has brought 17 goals in all competitions, including four in five Bundesliga appearances since Marmoush played his last game for the club.
It has previously been noted by Bild in Germany that Eintracht Frankfurt are seeking at least €80m (£66m) for Ekitike. And while the club would ideally not sell until 2026, a move this summer isn’t ruled out.
Although still a substantial figure, it is significantly less than Isak would likely cost. In addition to Arsenal and Liverpool, West Ham United are also rumoured to be interested.
There’s an irony that Newcastle were keen on Ekitike in 2022, with the striker then making waves as a teenager at Stade de Reims, before eventually landing Isak from Real Sociedad later that year. 90min revealed at the time the Magpies were close to signing him in the January window, then hoped that a proposed £30m deal would go through that summer, until PSG stole in.
Just under six weeks after Ekitike chose Paris, Newcastle sealed a £63m deal for Isak.
