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.

On Sunday, Juventus made an unusual move by sacking “Thiago Motta” before the end of the season, breaking from their traditional approach.

Last season, “Max Allegri” was dismissed with just two matches remaining, following his infamous outburst during the “Coppa Italia” final, where he threatened “Giudo Vaciago” and insulted “Cristiano Giuntoli.”

However, while Allegri’s exit was due to his behavior, the last time Juventus fired a manager mid-season due to poor results was in 2009/10 when “Ciro Ferrara” was replaced by “Alberto Zaccheroni” a decision that ultimately did not yield positive results.

So, why did Juventus break a “15-year-old run” and dismiss “Motta” before the season’s conclusion?

According to “Tuttosport via IlBianconero,” the 42-year-old coach was struggling on multiple fronts, but three key factors led the club’s hierarchy to take action.

Motta failed to establish a strong connection with the squad, particularly with senior players, many of whom felt alienated. “Danilo’s unsavoury treatment” serves as a prime example of his inability to manage player relationships effectively.

Additionally, Motta did not maintain good rapport within the club, struggling to communicate with both the locker room and the backroom staff.

The second major issue was the inconsistent handling of the captain’s armband. This constant rotation created confusion and uncertainty within the squad.

Eventually, Motta settled on “Manuel Locatelli” as captain, but not before frustrating several players, including “Federico Gatti,” who started the season as skipper.

However, he was later overlooked in favor of “Weston McKennie” and others, causing further unrest.

Ultimately, Juventus’ poor performances on the pitch were the most decisive factor. With the club now at risk of missing out on “Champions League” qualification, the financial repercussions could be catastrophic.

Faced with this looming threat, the board felt they had no choice but to act swiftly.

Juventus’ decision to part ways with “Motta” reflects their urgency to salvage the season and secure their place among Europe’s elite once again.

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.