Manchester United have reportedly joined Arsenal and Newcastle United in the race for promising 19-year-old striker Hugo Ekitike this summer, with the Reims striker having netted 9 times in Ligue 1 this season.
Ralf Rangnick recently revealed the plight of the Manchester United forward line, claiming that the Red Devils had no ‘modern’ striker in the squad, with Edinson Cavani leaving the club in the summer, Cristiano Ronaldo now 37 years old, and the futures of both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in doubt.
‘Cristiano is not a central striker or does not want to play in that position,” said Rangnick.
‘It’s obvious that the club needs, I would say, at least, two new strikers who just give this team more quality and more options. I wouldn’t even call it wingers.
‘Two strikers and modern strikers, that do not necessarily have to be wingers.
And, speaking on the striker situation again ahead of his side’s clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, he revealed that he pleaded for a striker in January, but to no avail.
‘I still believe we should have tried in those 48 hours,” said Rangnick. ‘The board sees it the same way. They agreed. But they also spoke to the scouting department at the same time as me. The answer was no.’
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Ekitike an option
Now, as per the Daily Mail, young striker Ekitike could be an option for the Red Devils. However, they will not be alone in their admiration of the teenager, who Newcastle United were interested in during the January transfer window but ultimately remained in France.
‘Ekitike has emerged as a potential target but United could face competition from other Premier League clubs such as Arsenal and Newcastle, as well as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich’, the report claims.
Should he make the move, the Red Devils will be hoping that he can offer a better long-term solution than their last import from France, Martial, who is currently enjoying a thoroughly underwhelming spell at Sevilla.
