PSG's Cameroonian son has suitors and will reluctantly have to pick the right one
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 15.08.23. | 11:58
Hugo Ekitike must choose Milan, Everton or Eintracht Frankfurt if he wants first-team football this season
Since PSG head coach Luis Enrique told him the club didn't count on him for this season, Hugo Ekitike has drawn the interest of several European clubs. AC Milan, Everton, and Frankfurt are particularly interested.
Although he seemed to have won a place in the team during pre-season, PSG has indeed opened the door for Ekitike's departure. The 21-year-old made 33 appearances last season, scoring four goals and as many assists, but he won't add to that tally this season.
The Rossoneri have been following Ekitike since his early days with Stade Reims in Ligue 1. The Milan executives, who have not yet contacted PSG, have included him in a shortlist that also features Chelsea's forward Armando Broja, though his condition is in question after a cruciate ligament rupture a few months ago.
On the other hand, Everton and Frankfurt have started discussions with Paris. They haven't submitted a formal offer yet, as they don't have an agreement with Ekitike. The German club could take advantage of PSG's interest in Randal Kolo Muani in this matter. A loan departure with a purchase option for Ekitike could be a solution, given that Paris just paid just over $35 million for the lanky striker, and none of the interested clubs won't match such an amount.
📰 #Gazzetta: #PSG continues to aim high and demands at least 30 million for #Ekitike's transfer rather than a loan. In this case, #ACMilan will need to see if they can meet the French club's requirements. In the meantime, Ekitike is also being tracked by other clubs, including… pic.twitter.com/kczIFyh9Wx
— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) August 15, 2023
Nonetheless, the situation of the Parisian player is intriguing. Like Renato Sanches, Juan Bernat, Neymar, and Marco Verratti, Ekitike was called in by Luis Enrique and Luis Campos last week to be informed that the club no longer counted on him. However, unlike the other four, the boy with Cameroonian roots was called up for the first match of the season against Lorient (0-0) and even came on as a substitute. Could Luis Enrique, who had invited observers to judge him by his "actions", ultimately rely on him if the forward doesn't leave by the end of August? The chances are slim for that happening.
On his part, the forward has always been willing to fight for his place in Paris. However, the recent signals from his management are causing him to reconsider.
