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While Alexander Isak was one option under consideration by Liverpool, it was always likelier that Hugo Ekitike would be more attainable for the Reds this summer in their search for a new number nine.
In many ways, a move for Ekitike would feel much more like a typically Liverpool-like transfer, too. And it was one that former Reds defender Jamie Carragher saw coming months ago.
Speaking back in April on the It's Called Soccer podcast, Carragher predicted the move for Ekitike. He also made clear that he felt a deal for Isak would be too complicated to do.
"There’s the lad at Eintracht Frankfurt who scored against Tottenham in the week, and I’m not going to try and pronounce his name!" Carragher laughed.
"Ekitike, that smacks to me as the type of player Liverpool would sign. I think he’s 22, and he’s at a club who you’d think would probably be a selling club. He’s done really well there.
"He went to PSG as a very young boy after sort of lighting up the French league as a young kid, and it didn’t quite work out for him. But he’s still really young.
"He’s got great numbers this season, and it almost looks to me as the type of player Liverpool would sign rather than maybe going for an Isak."
That may well be how things turn out, though Liverpool has shown itself willing to spend huge money when the time is right. It has committed a fee of more than $150M for Florian Wirtz, smashing its own transfer record.
Last season, Ekitike scored 22 times for Frankfurt. And like, say, Mohamed Salah, who didn't ignite at Chelsea, the French forward has also 'failed' at a big club before getting the move to Anfield.
While it is for big money, a deal for Ekitike would add quality in the final third for Liverpool. And with Darwin Nunez likely to move on, replacing him with the 23-year-old would represent an upgrade.
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Speaking in March after Ekitike had starred for Frankfurt against Ajax in the Europa League, Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder issued a glowing verdict.
"I might say something really crazy, but I’ll say it anyway: I think he’s a mix between Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe. I sincerely think so," he said while working as a pundit.
"He has the grace of Neymar, but also the movements of Mbappe. To suddenly accelerate, that’s something that Mbappé also has. And he’s only 22 years old. There’s really a lot of potential in this boy."
Liverpool.com says: Ekitike is going to cost quite a lot of money, but perhaps that is the market these days. He is talented and has big potential, while, crucially, is a much better fit than Nunez for how Arne Slot wants to play.
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