3 weeks ago
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Hugo Ekitike has already confirmed he's willing to modify his position to suit his Liverpool colleagues as they prepare to welcome Alexander Isak.
The French attacker arrived at Anfield from Frankfurt for $107 million this summer after his outstanding performances in Germany. He's enjoyed a superb beginning to his Merseyside journey, scoring in the Community Shield and Liverpool's first two Premier League matches this season.
Liverpool recruited Ekitike as they sought to introduce a central figure to their offensive tactics. When he signed, Isak wasn't expected to be on the market, but he later became available after expressing his wish to leave Newcastle.
The Reds are now poised to spend a British record $169M to land his signature, resulting in two expensive players vying for the identical position.
Nevertheless, Ekitike has confessed he's keen to provide various alternatives and will change roles if it helps the team, possibly surrendering his position as the side's top striker, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Ekitike said recently: "I mean, I do what the coach asks me to do, but yeah, I like to do everything. I can't define myself only as a striker (who likes) to finish: I like to play, I like to be in the game, in the collective part of play (and) create also.
"So, I can do both – I can play alone and I like to play also with another striker and I think that's what makes me versatile, but you know now in football you need to adapt."
It remains to be seen how Arne Slot intends to deploy Isak and Ekitike within his forward line, or whether one will be forced to accept reduced minutes. Similarly, Ekitike could find himself stationed out wide, having demonstrated a propensity to drift into the channels.
Mohamed Salah maintains a vice-like grip on his right-wing berth, whilst Florian Wirtz has been recruited to operate as a number 10, rendering the likelihood of Liverpool deploying two strikers rather remote.
Nevertheless, Ekitike's acknowledgement that he will fulfil whatever role his manager demands underlines what a consummate team player he is, and how invaluable he could prove to boss Slot.
Following Liverpool's 3-2 triumph over Newcastle last week, Slot was quizzed about Ekitike and declared: "I think he has already made a big impact in the attacking part of our game.
"Not only scoring goals but also being part of build-up situations where he was someone that started the attack or was part of us starting an attack. I'm talking about a difference a bit more than last season, although when Lucho [Luis Diaz] played there he was also a lot of times part of our build-up."
However, Isak's influence could be instrumental in helping Ekitike improve in the area that Slot has identified for growth. The manager elaborated: "What he can improve is his match fitness. I expect him to do even a lot, a lot more without the ball than he already does, because he's already working hard.
"There he can improve, which is completely normal because he has to adjust from a different league, from a different playing style. Frankfurt pressed but not as much as we try to do."
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