Liverpool makes transfer decision on Hugo Ekitike replacement after injury heartbreak

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Hugo Ekitike could be sidelined until 2027 after suffering a suspected ruptured Achilles during Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain

Hugo Ekitike could be sidelined until 2027

It has been suggested that Liverpool will not look to sign a replacement for Hugo Ekitike after the France international suffered a serious injury against Paris Saint-Germain.

The youngster went down after 31 minutes under no contact, sparking immediate concerns that something bad had happened. Ekitike is suspected to have ruptured his Achilles, which rules him out of this summer's World Cup and could even keep him out of action for Liverpool until 2027.

His injury leaves Alexander Isak – who himself is only just coming back from the broken leg he suffered in December – as the only genuine striker in Liverpool's squad.

Cody Gakpo has played through the middle at times during his Liverpool career but he is not particularly effective there.

However, the Daily Mail says that Liverpool is not expected to sign anybody to replace Ekitike, with the club instead preferring to make do with what it's got until he returns.

That's despite the club having a whole summer transfer window to potentially sign someone to replace the former Frankfurt striker – although not many top players would be content with coming in for a brief period while knowing that Ekitike would return to the team upon his return from injury.

Liverpool is yet to provide an official update on Ekitike's injury, but Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admitted the prognosis was not good after Tuesday's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ekitike might not play again this year(Image: 2026 Xavier Laine)

"Not too good. I think we could all see that it didn't look well and didn't look good. Let's wait and see what it will be," Slot said. "But we could all see it didn't look good.

"In the second half he went home so I haven't seen him yet. Losing a game is already very hard, especially in the way we lost it, but again – as it seems to be – losing a player is something we've had so many times this season.

"It's especially very hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially not at this moment of time in the season."

Liverpool only has the Premier League to focus on for the remainder of the season, and Isak will now be the striker tasked with steering the Reds back into the Champions League for next season.