Eintracht Frankfurt have reportedly emerged as the favourites to win the race for Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike.
When the attacker left Reims to make the switch to PSG in 2022, he was expected to eventually become an important player at Parc des Princes.
PSG committed to paying €35m at the end of a season-long loan deal, an indication that they envisaged the Frenchman starring in the final third.
Instead, the 21-year-old has been restricted to being a bit-part player under different managers, with a total of just 14 starts and 19 substitute outings being made in all competitions.
Only one outing has come in 2023-24 - an eight-minute appearance at the beginning of the campaign - and it is now common knowledge that PSG are willing to facilitate an exit.
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Given his age and potential, Ekitike has not been short of admirers in his signature with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wolfsburg having each been credited with an interest in a loan deal.
While a purchase option could be realistically requested in that circumstance, Ekitike's contract running until 2027 means that club officials do not necessarily have to be in any rush.
Nevertheless, according to Sky Sport Deutschland, it is Frankfurt who are most likely to secure Ekitike's signature over the coming days.
Frankfurt have allegedly reached an agreement with the attacker over personal terms, with Ekitike said to be willing to accept a wage cut to complete a temporary transfer.
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The report adds that a positive resolution is yet to be reached with PSG, with discussions having only recently gotten underway between the respective parties.
Should Ekitike make the switch to Deutsche Bank Park, it would represent another piece of key business for Frankfurt since the turn of the year.
Nathaniel Brown, Donny van de Beek and Sasa Kalajdzic have already arrived from Nurnberg, Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.
Frankfurt have since claimed four points from games with RB Leipzig and Darmstadt in the Bundesliga, keeping the club within six points of third-placed Stuttgart.
Darren Plant
