Why Hugo Ekitike is Valued at €100M

With Premier League interest growing on Hugo Ekitike this summer, Markus Krösche has once again been very transparent about his player’s price tag. Just as was the case with Omar Marmoush in the winter transfer window, Krösche has openly communicated the club’s valuation for their star forward, as rumours make the rounds about big clubs stating their interest. At a first glance, the valuation of €100M may seem unreasonably high, given the fact that this figure would exceed the transfer fees of both Omar Marmoush and Frenchman Randal Kolo Muani, who left the club two summers ago for a club-record sum of €95M. However, when taking a closer look at the club’s position and the profile of Ekitike, it becomes more clear why Krösche may be right in his valuation of the 22-year-old forward.

Strong Financial Position

Qualifying for the Champions League has strengthened Eintracht Frankfurt’s position in the market. The club is under no immediate pressure to sell any player this summer, as they have built a strong financial foundation over the past few years. Although Markus Krösche has reiterated the continuous need to sell players at a profit, the sales of players like Kolo Muani and Marmoush for a total profti of €170M have alleviated the pressure on the club to sell any player even at market value.

More importantly however, the valuation of Ekitike isn’t just a result of the club’s strong financial position; it’s a reflection of his exceptional talent and remaining potential.

Complete Striker

At only 22 years old, Hugo Ekitike already has everything the top clubs are looking for from a modern striker. He can play short passes, he’s good in transition due to his speed and off-the-ball movement. He can be fed with long balls and he’ll manage to control them, even under high pressure from his opponent. His quick feet and skills make him a nightmare to defend in one-on-ones. But most importantly, Ekitike scores and assist goals at an astonishing rate. In 48 matches this season, he has recorded 34 goal contributions for the Eagles.

Ekitike’s Unique Statistical Profile

(Stats: FBref.com)

World Class Potential

Despite already possessing outstanding abilities for a young striker, Ekitike still has a lot of untapped potential. The biggest area he will inevitably improve on is his effectiveness in front of goal. Even though he was the club’s top scorer this season, the Frenchman underperformed his xG (expected goals) by eight goals in the Bundesliga this season, missing 16 big chances. For context, Harry Kane has had less xG than Ekitike this season and still scored 11 more goals. If Hugo Ekitike continues his development and becomes a clinical finisher, he has the potential to become a world-class striker.