Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta may not be able to afford Alexander Isak (Image: Getty/Express Sport)
might not be able to afford Alexander Isak if reports of ‘s £150million asking price are accurate. But they could get the next best thing for a much cheaper price to solve their striker issues once and for all.
a natural No. 9 after Gabriel Jesus The Spaniard has been a long-term admirer of Isak, but he might be better off focusing on signing the star of tomorrow, Hugo Ekitike, who is making waves in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ironically, Ekitike looked to be on the verge of joining in 2022 before performing a U-turn when PSG entered the running. He joined with the Ligue 1 champions in July on an initial loan deal from Reims with a £30m obligation-to-buy clause.
As fate would have it, the Magpies paid £63m to sign Isak from Real Sociedad that same summer.
However, the youngster struggled to make his mark as an impact player at Parc des Princes, scoring just four goals in 32 appearances in his first season.
At the same time when Ekitike moved to PSG, the Parisian club were blessed with a front three of Neymar, Mbappe and Lionel Messi – forming arguably the most devastating attacking trio in recent history.
That made it incredibly difficult for the Frenchman to get first-team minutes under Christophe Galtier and Luis Enrique. He managed just one appearance in the first half of the 2023-24 campaign and was subsequently excluded from their Champions League squad.
With his stint at PSG quickly turning sour, Ekitike was farmed out on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt in February 2024. That proved to be the best decision for all involved, as the young forward has managed to revitalise his career in Germany.
Hugo Ekitike struggled to find his form at PSG (Image: Getty)
After making a positive impact in his first six months with the Bundesliga club, they took up the option to sign him for £14m and he hasn’t looked back, bagging 13 goals and providing five assists in all competitions this season.
Now 22, Ekitike has grown into the mould of a lethal modern striker, posing a dual threat as an aerial target and precise finisher. There are several likenesses he shares with Isak, but would likely cost considerably less than the in-form Swede.
Standing at 6ft 2in, Ekitike is a mobile striker who offers blistering pace and tireless runs in behind the defence. But with his height, he can also operate as a focal point and hold up the ball effectively – something have lacked despite ‘s towering frame.
The Frenchman has also proved to be the man for the big occasion, finding the net against top teams such as Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart.
Hugo Ekitike could be the presence Arsenal need up front (Image: Getty)
Of course, Eintracht are shrewd dealers in the transfer market and recognise Ekitike has enormous potential.
They have also reportedly agreed to sell Omar Marmoush to for an initial £67m fee, highlighting their ability to extract huge fees for their attacking talents. Randal Kolo Muani, Sebastien Haller and Luka Jovic’s big-money departures over the years are further proof.
With that in mind, they would be reluctant to part ways with a regular goalscorer of Ekitike unless the Gunners submit an irresistible proposal, perhaps somewhere north of £50m.
But if it means getting a player who is primed to follow in Isak’s footsteps and potentially hand the missing piece in their title challenge, it would be a price worth paying.