Hugo Ekitike drops Eintracht Frankfurt future hint amid Chelsea transfer interest

Rumoured target Hugo Ekitike may have dropped a significant hint about his future ahead of what promises to be a crucial summer transfer window.

The Eintracht Frankfurt striker has been linked with several clubs, including Chelsea, throughout the season. After spending the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Frankfurt from Paris Saint-Germain, he joined them permanently last summer and has been a standout performer ever since.

This season, the France youth international has registered 34 goal involvements across all competitions, unsurprisingly attracting interest from potential suitors. He remains under contract at Frankfurt until 2029, and widespread reports suggest he could command a fee in excess of £80 million this summer.

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Chelsea have been linked with Ekitike for much of the campaign, with reports indicating the club has sent scouts to watch him, including at Frankfurt’s final Bundesliga fixture of the season against SC Freiburg on Saturday. With uncertainty surrounding the long-term suitability of , Chelsea could be tempted to enter the market for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Whether Ekitike is a viable option remains to be seen, and any potential move may ultimately depend on the player’s desire to leave his current club. Frankfurt’s 3-1 win over Freiburg, in which the 22-year-old provided an assist, secured football for just the third time in the club’s long history.

Their last appearance in Europe’s premier competition came in the 2022/23 season, prior to Ekitike’s arrival at the Waldstadion, and this latest achievement has not been downplayed by the player. After the match, he shared a post on Instagram with the caption: “Yea you can write that in the books. We go to Champions League.”

As is often the case with players, the opportunity to play in the Champions League with their current club can be a strong incentive to stay for another season. It’s also worth noting that Chelsea’s own qualification for the competition is not yet guaranteed, despite their narrow win over Manchester United on Friday evening.

’s side currently sit fourth, which would secure a Champions League spot, but Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest all remain in contention ahead of next Sunday’s season finale.

London rivals Arsenal have also been linked with Ekitike, although the Gunners are reportedly prioritising a move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko also named as a target ahead of Ekitike.