Arsenal’s long search for a striker capable of scoring the goals to lead them to their first Premier League title in 22 years has switched to another target, Frenchman Hugo Ekitike.
The Gunners have been linked with a number of forwards already this summer with Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Bradley Barcola from Paris-Saint Germain and many others reported to be on their radar.
The latest suggestion is Eintracht Frankfurt forward Ekitike is also on their shopping list although there’s fierce competition to sign the 23-year-old France international with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United weighing up potential swoops.
Ekitike scored 22 goals for the Bundesliga club last season and his finishing is exactly what is required at Arsenal, who were runners-up once again last term with Liverpool easing to the title.
Mikel Arteta’s long journey to bring his process at Emiratesto fruition and end that unwanted streak without the championship have not been helped by the Reds and Manchester City already making major moves in the transfer market.
Hugo Ekitike next club odds
With Arne Slot having already spent more than £200million on new recruits this summer his chances of signing Ekitike may have to be placed on hold until the expected departure of Darwin Nunez to Serie A champions Napoli is completed.
Getting £60million for their Uruguay striker would offset the £40m needed to sign Ekitike and help balance the books with Jarell Quansah on his way to Leverkusen and Andrew Robertson and Harvey Elliott also set to leave Anfield.
The Reds are 4/1 with bet365 to win the Ekitike sweepstakes with Chelsea 13/2 with Unibet and BetMGM while all three firms have him heading to Old Trafford at 8/1. Arsenal are 18/1 with Bet Victor which appears a big price if their other attempted bids are falling short.
It’s interesting to note, however, that the shortest price in the Ekitike transfer market is the 6/4 with bet365 that he is still with Frankfurt when business in the current window is concluded.
Wimbledon odds: Back Bublik
Alexander Bublik is the dark horse everyone wanted to avoid when the draw was made for the men’s singles at Wimbledon.
He has enjoyed a marvellous build-up to the grass-court grand slam by winning the title in Halle after beating Jannik Sinner in the last 16 and Daniil Medvedev in the final and he has also showed he has the mental and physical strengths to thrive under pressure when defeating Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper on his way to the French Open quarter-finals.
Back the mercurial Kazakh at 13/10 with Bet Victor to win in straight sets in his open ending match against Spain’s Jaume Munar.
Petra Kvitova’s farewell
Double Wimbledon women’s champion Petra Kvitova looks as though she will be waving goodbye to SW19 for the last time on day two when she faces Emma Navarro.
The 2011 and 2014 queen of the All England Club has announced she’s retiring after the US Open in New York in September and the 35-year-old faces a tough task against her American opponent, a quarter-finalist last year. Kvitova may take it to the deciding set but tenth seed Navarro is 16/5 with Ladbrokes and Coral to win 2-1.