Manchester United are now interested in signing a £29 million “giant” as a possible alternative to Hugo Ekitike, according to a recent report.
Ekitike among Man Utd options in striker search
Given how goals have been an issue for the Red Devils this season and for the past 18 months, it isn’t a surprise that INEOS and Ruben Amorim are looking at potential strikers ahead of the summer transfer window.
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Manchester United could hold a key advantage in their race to sign a prolific goalscorer.
The Red Devils have been heavily linked with a move to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, but he has many other admirers from England and abroad. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is also a player who is under consideration by the Old Trafford hierarchy, along with Wolves’ Matheus Cunha, who United are now willing to spend £67 million on to secure his signing this summer.
But the options don’t stop there, as Football Insider reported that United are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Ekitike, and now The Mirror have reported that the Red Devils have an advantage over other teams in the race to sign Ekitike, as the striker is a boyhood United fan.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested in signing Ekitike, but given he could cost as much as £60 million, there may be other options for the Red Devils to consider before turning to the Eintracht Frankfurt man.
Man Utd want £29m “giant” Lorenzo Lucca
According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, relayed by United in Focus, Manchester United have joined the race to sign Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese at the end of the season.
The report claims that, given Etikite’s price tag, the Red Devils may look to consider cheaper alternatives, and Lucca has now emerged on their radar. However, they are not the only team chasing the Italy international, as Napoli and West Ham are also looking to secure his signature.
Despite only joining the Italian team last summer, Udinese are willing to do business this summer as long as they receive a fee of €35 million, which is roughly £29 million, much cheaper than what United would have to pay Frankfurt to sign Etikite.
Lucca, who has been dubbed “the giant from Moncalieri” given he stands at 6 foot 7, has spent all of his career in Italy, apart from a short loan spell at Ajax in the 2022/23 campaign.
The 24-year-old has been an impressive player in front of goal this season, netting 10 times in 29 Serie A games, as Udinese sit in the top half of the Italian table. Lucca represents a different profile for Amorim than what he currently has at Old Trafford, as the Italian is a player who can be more demanding in the box and has the physicality to hold the ball up and bring others into the game.
The concern would be that United have signed two strikers from Serie A in recent seasons, and both of them are yet to fulfil their potential.
