Real Madrid are reportedly tracking the progress of 19-year-old French attacking sensation Hugo Ekitike, Stade de Reims’ top scorer this season.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Hugo Ekitike is the subject of interest from Real Madrid over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The 19-year-old Stade de Reims’ striker is also a target for several other European bigwigs, including Barcelona.
Hugo Ekitike has taken Ligue 1 by storm since returning to Stade de Reims from Vejle BK last summer. Having made gradual progress in the Ligue 1 club’s first-team setup after initially being promoted to the senior squad, the teenage attacking sensation has quickly established himself as a key figure for the Red and Whites this season.
The 19-year-old has a solid record of eight goals and three assists in 17 Ligue 1 appearances thus far this season. Those eight goals do not only make Ekitike Reims’ top scorer but also the most prolific teenage in Europe’s top five leagues. Suffice to say, the French striker’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid the latest European bigwig to emerge in his pursuit.
The interest from Real Madrid stems from the uncertainties surrounding Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz’s futures at the club. And while Karim Benzema is going from strength to strength with every passing season, it is also in Real Madrid’s best interests to lay down a succession plan for the French striker, considering he is 34 years old.
For a long time, Erling Haaland has been touted to be the preferred option to be Benzema’s long-term successor. But recent reports have claimed that Real Madrid could be calling off the pursuit of the Borussia Dortmund sensation soon, as they want to focus their attention on signing Kylian Mbappe.
With Haaland’s arrival at Real Madrid looking like a bleak prospect, the Merengues need to turn their attention elsewhere in search of an attacking reinforcement, with Jonathan David among the young strikers on their radar. And Ekitike has also emerged as a viable target for Real Madrid to that end.
But Real Madrid will need to move in quickly for the 19-year-old French striker, as Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are among his prospective marquee suitors. Signing Ektike will not set his suitors back by much, with Reims likely to demand around €20 million for him. For now, though, the Spanish giants are closely monitoring his progress at Reims.
