Liverpool have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth an initial £69 million ($92 million), with an additional £10 million potentially payable in performance-based add-ons, bringing the total fee to £79 million.
The Premier League champions turned their attention to Ekitike after Newcastle United refused to entertain offers for Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who is valued at around £150 million. Both Newcastle and Manchester United had shown interest in Ekitike, but Liverpool appear to have secured the signature of the 23-year-old Frenchman, one of Europe’s most highly rated young forwards.
Ekitike is expected to join Arne Slot’s squad during their pre-season tour of Asia once the transfer is finalised. The forward scored 22 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions for Frankfurt last season, having joined the Bundesliga club from Paris Saint-Germain. He was left out of Frankfurt’s recent pre-season fixture against FSV Frankfurt, with manager Dino Toppmöller describing the striker’s departure as “a bitter loss.”
Liverpool’s move for Ekitike comes as the club reshapes its attacking line. The tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain has left a void in the forward ranks, and reports suggest that the club is open to selling Darwin Núñez. Meanwhile, Luis Díaz has also attracted interest, with Bayern Munich submitting and seeing a bid rejected for the Colombian international.
Ekitike’s arrival follows a busy transfer window for Liverpool. The Reds have already spent £116 million to land German playmaker Florian Wirtz and brought in defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth, respectively. Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has also joined the squad from Valencia ahead of the new season.
