3 weeks ago
65
Liverpool looks to be on the verge of securing the signing of Hugo Ekitike, and the Reds will be getting a highly ambitious player who has already set his sights on emulating Kylian Mbappe.
After a rollercoaster few days, Liverpool now looks to have landed upon a new striker. Personal terms have been agreed with Ekitike, with the 23-year-old having also put in a transfer request in order to move things along quickly.
That’s after the Reds had approached Newcastle over the potential signing of Alexander Isak, with the Magpies having originally launched their own bid for Ekitike. With no sign of Isak being allowed to leave though, Liverpool has moved quickly to secure its backup plan.
It now looks to just be a matter of time before the signing of Ekitike is secured, with the Reds looking to strike a deal with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Newcastle has, in essence, already done the groundwork following its failed $94 million (£70M) bid. Ekitike is reported to have a $116M release clause, although Liverpool may look to negotiate a lower price.
Should the deal go through as expected, Liverpool will get one of the most sought after young players in Europe at the moment, with Ekitike’s 22 goals for Frankfurt last season catching the eye of plenty of big clubs.
That return saw him deliver on the promise that led to him securing a lucrative loan move to Paris Saint-Germain from Reims in 2022, with the French giant suitably impressed to sign him permanently.
Ekitike found himself playing alongside the likes of Mbappe and Lionel Messi during his time in Paris, but he clearly wasn’t overawed by his superstar teammates, and even outlined his ambition to emulate the former.
"That's what it means to be a top-level player and that's what I aspire to become," he told Foot Mercato (via Goal) when discussing Mbappe. "Over the last few years, he is the player I watch the most, who inspires me, and not necessarily only on the pitch."
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Ekitike wouldn’t quite manage to reach Mbappe’s levels while in Paris, but his first full season at Frankfurt demonstrated why there was so much excitement around him in France as a youngster.
He will be hoping to replicate the sort of numbers he recorded in Germany at Anfield now - coincidentally, Mbappe was close to a move to Liverpool himself, and has often spoke of his admiration for the Reds.
Liverpool might not have been able to secure his services, but it will hope it has the next best thing now in Ekitike.
English (US) ·