3 weeks ago
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Liverpool has confirmed that Hugo Ekitike will wear the number 54 during the club's pre-season tour of China.
Liverpool announced Ekitike's arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, after the Reds agreed to pay $93 million plus a possible further $13 million in add-ons for the French striker.
Ekitike underwent his medical in London earlier this week and is set to link up with his new teammates ahead of the upcoming friendlies in Asia against AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos.
A decision will be taken on Ekitike's permanent new squad number closer to the start of the season, when the picture becomes clearer over which numbers are set to become available due to player departures.
Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, who wear the numbers seven and nine respectively, could both leave Liverpool in the coming weeks, opening up the prospect of Ekitike taking one of those numbers.
Ekitike isn't the only Liverpool player who has been given a temporary squad number for the pre-season games: new signings Freddie Woodman was given 55, Giorgi Mamardashvili was given 56, Milos Kerkez was given 57, Florian Wirtz was given 58, Jeremie Frimpong was given 59, and Armin Pecsi was given 60.
Ekitike's arrival will add greater depth to the Reds' attacking options, which could be depleted in the final six weeks of the window by the potential exits of Nunez and Diaz, as well as Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott, who have also been linked with departures.
Liverpool opted to sign the Frenchman in a transfer window dominated by expensive moves for no.9s. Liam Delap and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea, Matheus Cunha has signed for Manchester United, Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly on the verge of moving to Arsenal, while Newcastle United is believed to be chasing Yoane Wissa of Brentford.
Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko are also on the market this summer, both of whom were linked with Liverpool.
But Ekitike emerged as the preferred candidate for Liverpool. At 23, he is seen as a long-term signing, one that combines an ability to stretch opposition back fours and drop deep to help link play.
He was last week linked with a move to Newcastle, while Manchester United reportedly made a late approach to sign the former Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool did contact Newcastle over the possibility of signing Alexander Isak last week, but the Magpies have been insistent all summer that the Swedish striker is not for sale.
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