Ruben Amorim faces a key decision over one of Manchester United’s most promising young stars if he manages to land a key transfer target this summer. After being rejected by Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, United have turned their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
Talks between both parties are already underway, and Ekitike, 22, has previously expressed his admiration for the Premier League club. He scored 22 times in 48 club games for Frankfurt last season and has already been capped by France at Under-21 level. Amorim’s interest is likely to have been enhanced when he caught the eye in his side’s Europa League quarter-final clash with Tottenham, scoring from long range in the first leg.
However, he’s contracted to the Bundesliga club until the summer of 2029, meaning Frankfurt are not under pressure to negotiate a cut-price sale. United are likely to have to pay in the region of £85million for the forward, a fee that could be offset by the potential sale of Rasmus Hojlund.
If Ekitike does sign, Amorim will have to consider how best to deploy teenager Chido Obi. United pulled off a major coup when they signed the Dane from Arsenal last summer, and he’s since made eight senior appearances.
In May, at the age of 17 years and 156 days, Obi became the youngest player to start a Premier League game for the club against Brentford. He’s yet to score in the top-flight, but did strike twice for the Red Devils in their post-season 3-1 tour win against Hong Kong.
The presence of Ekitike is likely to confine him to a bit-part role, meaning Amorim must consider sanctioning a loan move to allow him to develop elsewhere. Despite his potential, Obi undoubtedly has much developing to do, a process he may find easier with regular game time at a Championship club or even abroad.
United also do not have the luxury of Europa League football, having used the group stages to rotate their squad last season. However, Hojlund’s seemingly inevitable departure could also leave Amorim short of forward cover if Ekitike, Joshua Zirkzee, or new signing Matheus Cunha were to get injured.
Keeping Obi at Old Trafford would give him more exposure to the first-team environment and, if nothing else, cameo appearances in the Premier League while still playing for the club’s Under-21 side. It’s not the most critical dilemma facing Amorim ahead of a huge summer for his tenure, but it’s one that could prove vital for Obi’s future.
