Chelsea could be set to miss out on one of their key striker targets this summer, as Premier League rivals Liverpool have reportedly intensified efforts to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 23-year-old Frenchman, who struggled to make an impact at Paris Saint-Germain, reignited his career after joining Frankfurt. Initially arriving on loan, Ekitike’s move was made permanent last summer following an outstanding run of form. He featured in 48 matches across all competitions last season, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists — a tally that has caught the attention of some of England’s biggest clubs.

Chelsea, along with Manchester United, have shown strong interest in the striker as they look to reinforce their attacking options. Despite the additions of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, Enzo Maresca is keen to add more firepower up front, and the Blues view Ekitike as a perfect fit for the Italian’s possession-based system and long-term project.

However, Chelsea face stiff competition from Liverpool, who are believed to be pushing hardest for his signature. The Reds are eager to strengthen their forward line under new manager Arne Slot, especially with Diogo Jota’s departure and question marks surrounding Darwin Nunez’s future. Liverpool believe Ekitike can be their long-term number nine and are said to be confident their sporting project — built around challenging for major trophies — can convince the Frenchman to join them.

Manchester United are also in the race, with new boss Ruben Amorim searching for a reliable striker to solve their ongoing goal-scoring issues.

Eintracht Frankfurt are holding firm in their valuation, reportedly demanding €100 million for Ekitike, who still has four years left on his contract. With multiple clubs circling, the German side have no intention of lowering their asking price, setting the stage for a potential bidding war.