Manchester United could have a major opportunity to sign transfer target Hugo Ekitike this summer following a significant update on his future.

With a shortage of strikers in United’s squad and Rasmus Hojlund struggling in front of goal this season, signing a proven goalscorer is a top priority for the club once the transfer window reopens.

While both Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen have been heavily linked with United, they are not the only strikers under consideration.

Last week, Hugo Ekitike emerged as a potential signing for United manager Ruben Amorim.

Since then, United’s chances of securing the Eintracht Frankfurt forward appear to be increasing.

Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Ekitike’s future ahead of the summer transfer window.

“Hugo Ekitike, expected to leave Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer after the excellent season he’s having,” Romano posted on X.

“Premier League clubs already started calling for the French striker ahead of the summer transfer window.”

This update could be excellent news for United, especially given the French forward’s impressive performances in both the Bundesliga and UEFA Europa League.

In 25 league appearances, Ekitike has scored 13 goals and provided four assists, with a respectable goal conversion rate of 15%.

The 22-year-old has also netted three goals and contributed three assists in 10 Europa League matches. Notably, he has won 61% of his aerial duels, making him a valuable asset in set-piece situations. (Stats via Sofascore)

Ekitike’s contributions have helped Frankfurt reach the Europa League quarter-finals, where they will face Tottenham Hotspur.

With Osimhen and Gyokeres attracting significant interest, having an alternative option like Ekitike could be beneficial for United. This would allow them to avoid bidding wars that could inflate the price tags of other transfer targets.

As the Championship season enters its final stretch following the last international break of 2024/25, the race for automatic promotion is heating up.

Burnley are pushing to break into the top two, battling Leeds United and Sheffield United for a coveted spot in the Premier League.

Currently sitting third, Burnley are chasing Daniel Farke’s Leeds and Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United, who have maintained a relentless pace at the top.

Leeds have held first place for “16 matchdays in a row” heading into the international break, despite a recent dip in form, winning just one of their last four matches. Their upcoming fixture against Swansea City will be crucial in maintaining momentum.

Championship experts Justin Peach and Ryan Dilks believe Burnley will ultimately fall short in their bid for automatic promotion. They outlined their reasons for this prediction in a recent discussion.

Dilks stated: “We’ll start off by revealing who we think is missing out on promotion.”

Peach responded: “I think it’ll be Burnley.”

Agreeing with his colleague, Dilks added: “I have also gone Burnley. So, why don’t you think Burnley are going up automatically?”

Key Concerns for Burnley’s Promotion Hopes

Peach elaborated on his reasoning: “I just think they draw too many games. Defensively, it sets them up very nicely to be an automatic promotion contender which they are.”

“But I think you need a killer instinct to push for the top two, and it’s not something we have seen regularly enough this season for Burnley.”

He pointed to past promotion-winning teams as an example: “Just for example, you look at Ipswich last season [and] how often did they score late in a game to win it? That’s the sort of thing I’m talking about.”

Peach emphasized that while Burnley’s defensive structure is strong, their tendency to settle for draws may cost them: “It’s not a negative, but I think just looking at how many draws they’ve had, it tells you that. They’ve had 15.”

With just eight games remaining, Burnley will need to find that winning edge if they are to leapfrog Leeds or Sheffield United and secure automatic promotion.

Dilks expanded on that with his own explanation. He said: “The first thing for me is that I just think the other two are better; if we are boiling it down to as simple as that, then I think that’s the case.

“Leeds have the edge in terms of their squad. Sheffield United have the edge in terms of the manager. As we have said numerous times, he has been like the Chris Wilder of old this season.

“They [Burnley] can find themselves coming unstuck very easily. In terms of their remaining fixtures, they have got the hardest games based on league position out of the sides chasing automatics.

“Burnley are well in this race I would by no means rule them out of getting automatically promoted I just simply fancy the other two more than this Burnley side.”

Burnley’s Momentum Can’t Be Ignored in the Promotion Race

With just eight games remaining in the battle for promotion, the race is set to take several twists and turns.

At this stage of the season, mental toughness and resilience are crucial for any team hoping to secure a spot in the Premier League.

Burnley’s impressive form has drawn plenty of attention, with James Trafford’s exceptional performances playing a key role in their success.

His contributions have helped the Clarets break records, and their unbeaten run has earned praise from Championship experts.

Currently, Burnley are unbeaten in “25 games,” and while their attacking output has been questioned at times this season, their recent performances have silenced many critics. Since back-to-back “0-0 draws with Leeds and Portsmouth,” the Clarets have found their rhythm in front of goal, making it difficult to find fault in their approach.

Momentum is everything at this stage of the campaign, and Burnley appear to be hitting top form at exactly the right time.

Their next two fixtures against play-off hopefuls Coventry City and Bristol City will be pivotal. Securing “four or six points” from these matches is essential to keep pace with Leeds and Sheffield United.

If they can maintain this level of performance, Burnley could well overtake one of their rivals by the time May arrives.

Nottingham Forest are enjoying an impressive season, with fans dreaming of a return to European competition.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side is battling for a Champions League spot while also preparing for an FA Cup quarter-final after the international break.

A key figure in their success is Morgan Gibbs-White, who has been called up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

However, Tuchel has made it clear that his focus is on England’s World Cup qualifiers rather than club concerns.

Tuchel’s Perspective on International Duty

Tuchel, who has managed Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, is now experiencing international management for the first time.

After starting his England tenure with a “2-0 win against Albania,” he is now preparing for a match against Latvia. Balancing player workload while maximizing their time in camp is a challenge he is keenly aware of.

As a former club manager, Tuchel understands the frustration of losing players to international duty at a crucial stage of the season. However, now that he is on the other side, he insists that England’s goals take priority.

“I know that this window, this camp, is where the clubs play a very crucial time of the season,” Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live. “They play for championships, they play for quarter-finals in the Champions League.”

“We are very well aware of it, but we have also our own goals, we have our own targets. The players are keen to play and it has to be like this.”

Despite club concerns, Tuchel revealed that no managers have contacted him regarding their players. He also pointed out how clubs prioritize their own needs when it suits them.

Referring to a recent Champions League tie, he said, “After a 7-1 first leg and Declan Rice played the next match with Arsenal, I didn’t have the feeling that they think so much about us.”

“I don’t think we have to break our heads about this.”

Tuchel emphasized that while he considers the players’ schedules, England’s qualifiers remain the priority.

“I take care about the players. We take care about the schedule, but it would be the wrong signal to tell players now, ‘Hey, you have tough matches coming up, so I rest you now’.”

Striking a Balance Between Club and Country

Tuchel reassured clubs that England carefully monitors players’ conditions and maintains open communication with their teams.

“We have a qualifier to play, we do what’s good for us. We monitor them, we are in contact with the clubs, we are in high-level monitoring where the status is and we will not take any unprofessional risks.”

At the same time, he made it clear that player welfare is a priority.

“Because first of all, I feel responsible for the players. I don’t want the player to be injured, I want the player to play quarter-finals of the Champions League – all of them – because I want to watch it, I want to see it.”

Tuchel ultimately believes both club and country have their responsibilities. “So, this is where it is and in the end we take care about us and the clubs take care about themselves and the main focus is taking care of the players.”

With England’s qualifiers in full swing and Nottingham Forest fighting for a top-four finish, the balance between club and international commitments remains a delicate one.