Liverpool’s pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is rapidly gaining momentum, with the club aiming to finalise the signing by this weekend.
Initially considered a backup option to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s interest in Ekitike has now accelerated.
The Reds plan to submit an official offer to Frankfurt after recent discussions with the Bundesliga side.
Multiple reports suggest the Premier League champions are keen to secure Ekitike as their next signing, with the deal expected to be completed before the weekend.
BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel and The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe are among the journalists covering the developing story.
Bascombe reports that Liverpool hope to acquire Ekitike for less than the £86.5million release clause in his contract, while Mokbel adds that their offer is expected to surpass Newcastle’s £70million bid.
Bascombe also notes that Ekitike has informed Frankfurt of his desire to move to Anfield and sign a six-year contract.
This willingness from the player is expected to boost Liverpool’s chances of completing the transfer before manager Arne Slot and the squad depart for their pre-season tour of Asia on Monday.
Newcastle have reportedly “conceded defeat” in their pursuit of Ekitike, while Manchester United, who had expressed interest, were quickly sidelined once Liverpool entered the race.
If the transfer goes through, it would mark the end of a year-long search for a new No. 9 for Liverpool.
Darwin Nunez is expected to leave this summer, and Bascombe states that the club’s recruitment team has been “scouting various options and ready to act depending on the availability of key targets.”
He adds that Ekitike has been under observation for a prolonged period and fits Liverpool’s typical recruitment profile.
A tall and agile centre-forward, Ekitike developed through the ranks at Stade de Reims before securing a move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 following a season-long loan.
However, his time at PSG did not go as planned, and less than a year later, he transferred to Frankfurt.
At Frankfurt, Ekitike has proven his quality in one of Europe’s top leagues, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 appearances last season.
While Liverpool have also been linked with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, Ekitike appears to be the standout candidate to lead their line.
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