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Liverpool’s deal to sign Hugo Ekitike has been questioned by a former Premier League manager, with the Reds now on the verge of completing the striker’s move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
After a rollercoaster week, Arne Slot looks to have found his new No.9, with Ekitike now expected to complete his medical this week before joining up with his new teammates during the tour of Asia.
The signing comes after the Reds moved quickly for their plan B, having been pushed back in their approach to Newcastle for Alexander Isak - although it does look as though that saga may not have ended just yet.
Nevertheless, Liverpool will land a new striker this week as long as long as all goes according to plan with Ekitike’s medical, with the 23-year-old moving in a deal that could be worth up to $106 million (£79M).
$93M of that is fixed, with the remainder coming in potential add-ons, with Liverpool having managed to negotiate Eintracht down from the $111M the German club had wanted.
Former Sheffield United and QPR boss Neil Warnock though has questioned the amount of money Liverpool is spending on Ekitike.
“Isn’t it a lot of money for someone who, yes he’s had a good season, but there’s so many question marks about what he’s going to be like,” Warnock said on talkSPORT.
“I don’t know where the money is going now. £90m for that? I just think it’s too much of a gamble.
“Or, are they doing it to try and give them a bit more time for the Newcastle lad?”
Despite Warnock’s doubts, Liverpool will go ahead with the deal this week, with Ekitike set to complete his medical before flying out to Hong Kong, where the Reds will take on AC Milan in their next pre-season friendly on Saturday.
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From there, they then move on to Japan, where they face Yokohama F Marinos on July 30, which may be the most likely opportunity for Ekitike to make his first appearance for the club.
Liverpool.com says: Obviously, Warnock has got the eventual fee for Ekitike wrong there, and he seems to have based his valuation on previous reports following Newcastle’s failed bid.
There will be some question marks around Ekitike based on the fact he only spent one full season with Eintracht before making the move to Anfield, although, at 23, time is still firmly on his side, and Liverpool clearly view him as a player who can be developed into a top striker.
And, of course, the Isak situation continues to linger, and it will be interesting to see whether Liverpool has called it quits on him or not.
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