Hugo Ekitike: The Isak-lite that has Premier League golf equipment scrambling
Hugo Ekitike’s identify has barely left the hearsay mill in current months. With nearly all the Premier League’s prime groups in quest of firepower this summer time, the Eintracht Frankfurt ahead has emerged as an intriguing choice.
For English followers who should not common watchers of the Bundesliga, a primary glimpse arrived final week. Frankfurt confronted Tottenham Hotspur within the Europa League and it took simply six minutes to see what the fuss is about.
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Ekitike was the one Frankfurt participant within the Spurs half when he picked up possession extensive on the left. It mattered little. After backing up Pedro Porro to the sting of the realm, he skipped contained in the Spurs right-back and wrapped a end into the far nook. It was a end that has change into a trademark. A pointy shift, adopted by a crisp connection and ideal placement.
Ekitike’s transfer to Germany has helped unlock the potential that first emerged at Reims. After scoring 10 targets in Ligue 1 as a young person in 2021/22, he signed for Paris Saint-Germain. He contributed seven aim involvements as PSG received the title in his debut season, however alternatives have been restricted on the Parc des Princes.
He joined Frankfurt on an preliminary six-month mortgage in January 2024 earlier than the switch was made everlasting in the course of the summer time. As they so usually have in relation to centre-forwards throughout the final decade, the German facet are reaping the rewards.
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Omar Marmoush’s blistering kind throughout the primary half of the season was the headline information from The Waldstadion, however Ekitike has picked up the slack for the reason that Egyptian’s exit for Manchester Metropolis. He’s scored 10 targets in all competitions since January and has 21 for the season after netting in opposition to Heidenheim on the weekend. In March, he hit a hat-trick as France’s u-21 facet beat England u-21 in the course of the worldwide break.
Ekitike stays uncooked however seems a tough diamond able to be polished. He’s drawn comparisons to Alexander Isak, arguably probably the most coveted centre-forward in Europe, for his tall body and fleet footwork. Regardless of standing at 6ft 3in Ekitike is ready to shift his toes with a nimbleness not usually seen in a single so tall. There’s an elasticity to his recreation, which coupled with an enhancing aim file has Europe’s elite circling.
The numbers help the view of his suitors.
Throughout the final 12 months, Ekitike ranks within the prime 10% of forwards throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues for the next metrics per 90 minutes: Non-penalty xG, photographs, assists, shot-creating actions, progressive carries, profitable take-ons, attacking penalty space touches, and probabilities created.
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It’s an in depth checklist.
For comparability, he’s averaged the next xG, anticipated assists and extra photographs on track per 90 than Isak in league motion this season. In fact, comparability between leagues is harmful territory, whereas there’s been a poor translation from Bundesliga goalscorers to Premier League lately. That mentioned, it’s a stable basis to construct upon.
Maybe the largest query marks round Ekitike and the Premier League are physicality and the flexibility to refine his ending. Isak has proven {that a} wiry body can conceal misleading energy, whereas manipulation of his physique is one thing the Frenchman can enhance. That mentioned, regardless of his peak, aerial prowess shouldn’t be a energy. Simply one among his 21 targets this season have come by way of his head.
His general ending, in the meantime, is one other space for enchancment. Regardless of the cleanness of his strike in opposition to Spurs and comparable efforts this season, he ranks third for xG underperformance within the Bundesliga this season (-5.83). The probabilities are arriving in abundance however not all the time counting. No participant within the Premier League this season has an even bigger underperformance than Ekitike’s. Isak, to revert again to comparability, has over-performed by a margin of two.53 targets.
Stats, nevertheless, may be skewed to no matter angle matches the agenda. Of gamers aged 22 or beneath in Europe’s prime 5 leagues, just one can match Ekitike for league targets this season – Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
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With an eclectic mixture of attributes and a possible ceiling of big peak, Frankfurt are braced for bids. The German facet will drive a tough discount for some of the thrilling abilities to cross by means of their ranks in current seasons.
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