Manchester United Can’t Afford To Pay £85m For Chelsea Target: Should The Blues Splash That Amount? | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitike is back in the market spotlight. The 22-year-old French striker has attracted the attention of three Premier League giants. Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are keeping a close eye on his situation.

According to Football Insider, the Eintracht Frankfurt player is one of the most attractive profiles of the summer. However, the high asking price of the German club- £85 million- seriously complicates his departure. Meanwhile, United seem to be out of the race for financial reasons, leaving Chelsea and Liverpool with a free hand to try to sign him before the window closes.

Chelsea have already signed Liam Delap at the beginning of June, but they are not settling for that. Enzo Maresca’s side want another striker to complete their attacking squad. According to Football Insider, Ekitike is one of the priorities, although the London club are not willing to pay more than what they consider fair.

The directors have set a clear limit to avoid repeating past mistakes. Although the interest is real, and contact with the player’s entourage exists, the west London club will evaluate well before making a definitive move. The priority is to balance quality and spending after the recent transfer windows.

Opinion:

However, should Chelsea break their salary cap for Ekitike? The situation suggests caution. They have already signed Delap, a young prospect, and spending 85 million more could lead to internal imbalances. Betting heavily on a striker without proven Premier League experience always brings risks, even more so if he comes with such a high price tag.

Ekitike’s profile is interesting: good first touch, mobility, quality on the ball, nose for goal scoring and ability to link up with others. However, his goalscoring record does not yet justify such a big investment. If Frankfurt do not lower their demands, the most sensible thing for Chelsea would be to look for other alternatives or negotiate downwards.

On the other hand, pairing Ekitike with Delap could create a young, complementary duo with room for growth. One attacks space; the other can play as the second striker. They could take turns as starters or even play together in a flexible 4-4-2.

Maresca could mould them according to the opponent and the pace of the game. Youth does not guarantee immediate results, but it does offer freshness and commitment. Finally, Chelsea will play in the Champions League, and that factor matters. The European showcase is an argument that may tip Ekitike’s decision. Liverpool are also attractive, and are Premier League champions in 2024/25. So, it should be a race between the Blues and the Reds.