Chelsea Leading the Race for £60m Star Hugo Ekitike, But Thierry Henry Issues a Cautious Warning
Chelsea are currently in front of Arsenal and Liverpool in the pursuit of Hugo Ekitike following his impressive breakout season. The 22-year-old striker, who had a standout year at Eintracht Frankfurt with 34 goal contributions in 48 matches, has become one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market.
With Arsenal urgently needing a reliable scorer, Liverpool likely moving on from Darwin Nunez, and Chelsea aiming to boost their attack despite already signing Liam Delap, all three clubs have shown strong interest in Ekitike.
However, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who has worked with Ekitike at France’s youth level, gave a mixed assessment of the forward’s abilities.
Henry told Micah Richards on The Rest is Football podcast, “He’s not exactly frustrating, but sometimes he looks incredible, and other times he struggles with the basics. If he can improve, his potential is very high.”
Though Chelsea appear to be leading the race to sign Ekitike—estimated at around £60 million—Henry’s comments highlight some doubts. Micah Richards also noted that Ekitike’s style might not perfectly fit Liverpool’s system.
Richards said, “He’s more of a striker who stretches defenses, unlike Firmino who drops deep and connects play. But in terms of talent, he could still be a valuable addition to Liverpool.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal seem to be advancing with a deal for Benjamin Sesko, reportedly Mikel Arteta’s preferred striker. If Sesko joins Arsenal and Liverpool pursues Florian Wirtz, who can play as a false nine, Chelsea might have a clearer path to secure Ekitike.
Despite earlier skepticism about Chelsea’s transfer plans, the club looks determined to support new coach Enzo Maresca by strengthening their attacking options. With the Club World Cup approaching and a June 10th deadline for eligible signings, fans can expect fast activity in the next few days.
