Liverpool is highly expected to sign a new striker this summer, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s prolific Hugo Ekitike among the players they are considering.
Ekitike, a 6’3” France U21 international, recently scored a hat-trick in his country’s 5-3 friendly win over England.
At the club level, the 22-year-old has played for Reims, Vejle Boldklub, Paris Saint-Germain, and, after a challenging time in Paris, he is now with Bundesliga’s surprise team, Frankfurt.
Frankfurt is on track to secure a Champions League spot this season, largely thanks to Ekitike’s contributions.
According to the Mail’s Lewis Steele, Liverpool’s scouts have been keeping a close eye on Ekitike for some time.
It is likely that he will be one of the more seriously considered options as Liverpool seeks to add a new striker to complement or compete with Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz in the upcoming transfer window.
A previous report from Sky Germany indicated that Frankfurt would demand around €80 million (£67m) for Ekitike.
While this price might seem high, it’s in line with the expected cost for a top-tier center-forward as Liverpool looks to either replace or add competition for Nunez, who is the most probable to leave, with Saudi Arabian clubs reportedly interested. Nunez had previously been eager to join Al-Nassr, but a £62.4 million bid plus add-ons was rejected in January.
Ekitike could be a better fit for Liverpool’s style under Arne Slot, offering a striker who is more comfortable in all-around play
during buildup.
