Hugo Ekitike is one of the top names left on the summer transfer market - and any club hoping to land him will have to play by Eintracht Frankfurt’s rules.
It is well known that the German club have slapped a €100 million figure on the 23-year-old and are refusing to entertain offers below that at this stage.
Frankfurt’s position is clear in that they will only consider dropping the price tag if it suits them… and sources indicate that is only possible in the final weeks of the window, once their own plans for the season are fully in place.
For the player himself, this is a key moment. Does he push to join a big club or continue to develop while leading Frankfurt into the Champions League next season? The hunch is that he is ready to move.
Premier League interest
Interest in Ekitike has been bubbling and, in England, Manchester United made formal contact early in the window. That deal is not thought to have progressed at this stage.
There has also been interest from Saudi Arabian sides, while Chelsea and Arsenal made informal contact. It is Newcastle United and Liverpool who are expected to make an approach soon.
Newcastle’s interest is serious - Ekitike has been on their radar for years, and they came close to signing him from Reims in 2022.
The Magpies maintained long-term admiration and are carefully assessing the situation once again. Any formal approach is most likely to hinge on the outcome of Alexander Isak’s contract talks.
It is true, though, that Newcastle have been trying to find another forward for squad depth and their European ambitions - and Ekitike could become a more immediate target.
Liverpool are monitoring the situation closely and have had serious conversations internally about signing him. Ekitike is seen as a very good fit for the tactical make-up Liverpool are heading towards.
We analysed Ekitike's potential as Darwin Nunez's replacement in this article.
The move would be very interesting to the player, and he is willing to show patience in terms of it opening up.
Reds moving first?
Sources suggest Frankfurt also remain hopeful that Liverpool will be the club to make the first serious move, as that could be their best chance of achieving their valuation on the player.
Intermediaries close to the situation have given encouragement that the Reds are preparing to open initial talks, though nothing formal has been submitted yet.
After the Club World Cup, Chelsea will again contemplate how their forward line looks for next season, so they cannot be totally discounted. That interest would be suited to his German side, as Frankfurt had hoped to spark a bidding war between several Premier League giants.
Frankfurt would even be prepared to hold their ground and would consider keeping Ekitike until January if no buyer comes close to their price, sources say.
Time will tell. The likelihood is that Ekitike will still become one of the biggest transfers of this summer. For now, it is just a waiting game.