According to Foot Mercato, Chelsea are set to meet Hugo Ekitike and his camp to discuss a potential move to Stamford Bridge. The French striker is high on their list of No.9s, as his club, Eintracht Frankfurt currently value him at €100 million. Meanwhile, clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool are also thought to be in the mix.
Chelsea will begin preparations to make key transfers in the market following their qualification for the UEFA Champions League after they finished fourth in the Premier League. The Blues are eager to strengthen key positions in the window, which includes bringing in a new striker to lead the line and compete with Nicolas Jackson.
Liam Delap is thought to be set to join, with Chelsea indeed pursuing a move for the Ipswich Town forward. The Blues are not restricting their chase to one option, as they are simultaneously working on alternative options, such as Hugo Ekitike.
The French forward is coming at the back of a prolific season with 34 goal contributions for Eintracht Frankfurt across all competitions. The Bundesliga side are adamant about achieving at least €100 million for the striker should they court offers, as there are teams like Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in the mix.
Arsenal are still deciding on their main No.9 target with Ekitike one of the names alongside Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres on their list. Liverpool are also very keen on the Frankfurt star, as Arne Slot approves of his profile, and would like him as a replacement for the ineffective Darwin Nunez.
Chelsea are ready to take the next steps in the pursuit of the 34 G/A Frenchman, as they are set to meet with Ekitike and his camp this week to figure out the next steps. The Blues view Ekitike as a top target, though any move will depend on how much Frankfurt realistically ends up asking.
Chelsea are serious about strengthening their No.9 position in the summer, as Ekitike’s numbers suggest he could be solid enough for them. He could properly challenge Nicolas Jackson for a starting role, and even then, provide great depth to the forward line ahead of the season when the Champions League will return to Stamford Bridge.
