Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is set to be overlooked by France once again despite his impressive start to the season, leaving the 22-year-old to consider switching international allegiance to Cameroon.
Ekitike joined Liverpool in the summer for a deal that could rise to £79million and has quickly justified the investment.
He has scored twice in his first two Premier League games and also found the net in the Community Shield.
Despite his strong form, Didier Deschamps is not expected to call him up for France’s upcoming fixtures against Ukraine and Iceland as the 2018 World Cup winners prepare for this summer’s tournament in North America.
With his international ambitions stalled, Ekitike may now turn his focus to Cameroon, for whom he is also eligible.
The African giants remain one of the continent’s most consistent sides, having appeared in six of the last eight World Cups and famously reaching the quarter-finals in 1990.
They currently sit second in their World Cup qualifying group behind Cape Verde.
France, meanwhile, will head into the tournament as one of the favourites, boasting an embarrassment of attacking riches.
Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé lead the frontline, while Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, and PSG starlet Désiré Doué are reportedly ahead of Ekitike in Deschamps’ plans.
Ekitike’s path to the French squad remains blocked by fierce competition, which could prompt him to reconsider his international future and seek regular opportunities with Cameroon.
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