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20th January 2022
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20th January 2022 Frankfurt forward sparks Man United transfer rumours after naming favourite childhood club
Danny Jones
French forward Hugo Ekitiké who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, has set the transfer rumour mill churning after revealing that he was a boyhood Manchester United fan.
Ekitiké may currently be lighting up the German league but many fans, both United and otherwise, now believe the youngster has given the club a strong signal to ‘come and get me’ in a recent interview with his current employers.
Speaking via Frankfurt’s own media channels, the 22-year-old striker was asked who his favourite football team was growing up in a series of quickfire questions.
He didn’t hesitate:
🚨 Hugo Ekitike when asked which team was his favourite club when he was little:
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) March 23, 2025
“Manchester United.”
(Via @Eintracht)
pic.twitter.com/wob4nkjpGz
If this is, indeed, a bit of a wink and a nod in the Red Devils direction (he wouldn’t be the first nor the last), there might be reason to believe it could happen.
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Born in Reims, not only is Ekitiké one of the most promising young players in the Bundesliga at present, but there are plenty of particulars that could see a courtship sparked with United – if it hasn’t already.
Apart from clearly being a Red from a young age, the Frankfurt prospect came through the ranks at his hometown club in 2019, the same year in which Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Group acquired fellow Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.
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Not only did he score 10 goals in his first 26 appearances for Reims but it didn’t take too long for PSG to snap him up before ultimately loaning him out to Frankfurt last year, who made the deal permanent back in April 2024. All this is to say that it’s likely that INEOS will have detailed scout reports on him already.
Since then, he’s gone on to net 19 goals and register eight assists across 38 appearances, including a baker’s dozen in the league and four goal contributions in three games during his side’s run to the round of 16 in the domestic cup.
You can see some of Hugo Ekitiké’s highlights below.
Following this revelation, some outlets are reporting that Man United, Arsenal and a number of other clubs have been put on ‘red alert’ in regards to tapping up Ekitiké ahead of the summer transfer window.
European football reporter and German transfer specialist Florian Plettenberg has said that he is among a handful of names that the United are “closely monitoring.”
It goes without saying that given Rúben Amorim‘s early struggles with getting his squad to not just score enough goals but create a steady stream of chances from game to game, the addition of another young striker to potentially build around whilst his other forwards are struggling to find form could be useful.
As for how much Ekitiké’s would be priced at, whoever does go in for him will no doubt have to pay quite an increase on the estimated £13.5million transfer fee Frankfurt signed him for.
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Besides being an option for rotation – especially as Joshua Zirkzee seems to have moved into an attacking midfield role and Rasmus Højlund has only found the net once in his last 21 games – he’s already been praised for his dynamism, even if he’s still somewhat raw.
For what it’s worth, we’ve already seen how well a former Frankfurt teammate of his has settled into life in English football over on the blue half of Manchester in the form of Omar Marmoush, and the Bundesliga’s similarity to the Premier League in terms of physicality is well documented.
Oh yeah, and a meaningless coincidence it may well be, but he’s already used to wearing red, white and black – just saying…
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Featured Images — Eintracht Frankfurt/Bundesliga (screenshots via YouTube)
Man arrested after ‘letting gas off’ on Metrolink trams in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Police have arrested a man following reports of a person ‘letting gas off’ on Metrolink trams.
Passengers had reported a man ‘wearing a gas mask’ boarding services between Bury and Victoria, who was releasing gas.
Several witnesses reported ‘feeling discomfort or dizziness’ following the ‘concerning incidents’, but thankfully no serious injuries have been reported.
A man in his 30s has now been arrested on suspicion of possessing a noxious substance with intent to injure, and remains in police custody.
There’s not believed to be any wider threat to the public.
Trams on the Bury line were also suspended this morning due to a ‘police incident’ at Crumpsall.
Anyone who believes they may have witnessed something suspicious is urged to get in touch with police as this work continues.
Detective Chief Inspector Paddy Connell, from GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “We fully appreciate that incidents of this nature can cause concern in our communities, but I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there is any wider threat present.
“We have now secured the arrest of a man and are working hard to establish the full circumstances of the events that have been reported over recent days.
“As officers continue to work their way through all the evidence available, we are asking anyone who has any information to please come forward. This includes anyone who believes they have witnessed something suspicious, or similar to the incidents that we are dealing with.
“Our transport hubs are operating as usual, and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to speak to a police officer, who will be more than happy to discuss any queries you may have.”
You can contact police via 101 or the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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Featured image: TfGM
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