3 weeks ago
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Hugo Ekitike has already revealed he is prepared to adapt his role to suit his Liverpool teammates as they gear up to welcome Alexander Isak, who is likely to become the club's main striker.
The French forward arrived at Anfield from Frankfurt following his impressive displays in Germany. He has enjoyed a brilliant beginning to his Merseyside career, finding the net in the Community Shield and during the opening two Premier League games of the campaign.
Liverpool brought in Ekitike as it looked to add a focal point to its frontline. At the time of his signing, Isak was not anticipated to be available, but now he is after expressing his desire to depart Newcastle.
The Reds are set to splash out a British record sum to secure his services, leaving them with two costly players competing for the identical position.
Nevertheless, Ekitike has admitted he is eager to diversify his skill set and will shift positions if it benefits the squad, potentially relinquishing his status as the team's leading striker.
He 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's still uncertain how Arne Slot plans to utilise Isak and Ekitike in his attacking line-up - or whether one of them will have to settle for less playing time.
Mohamed Salah has a firm hold on his position on the right, and with the signing of Florian Wirtz to play as a number 10, the prospect of Liverpool fielding two strikers seems unlikely.
Jamie Carragher was among those voicing concerns about Liverpool potentially having an expensive back-up.
The impending arrival of Isak is likely to relegate Ekitike to a secondary role at times, a situation that the Sky Sports pundit confessed he found unsettling.
He said on the Overlap: "From a fan's point of view for myself, I don't want Liverpool to spend £150 million on Isak.
"There's something about Liverpool buying another striker [Hugo Ekitike], and he's backup. Something about it doesn't feel right to me."
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