Liverpool are on the verge of pulling off a major transfer coup as they close in on the £70 million signing of French striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, leaving Newcastle United reeling after being pushed aside in a move that could reshape both clubs’ summer strategies.
The 23-year-old forward has reportedly made it clear he prefers a move to Anfield, and with Liverpool already in advanced talks with the Bundesliga outfit, the transfer appears to be accelerating fast.
The Reds made their move official on Wednesday, registering their interest with Frankfurt and confirming they are prepared to meet the club’s valuation, after Newcastle’s £70m bid was turned down earlier in the week.
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Despite Newcastle’s long-standing interest in the former PSG talent, the Magpies now find themselves on the outside looking in.
Liverpool’s need for a new No.9 has intensified with Darwin Nunez likely to depart this summer and Luis Diaz attracting further interest from Bayern Munich, whose £58.6m offer was already rejected by the Merseyside giants.
While Newcastle had hoped to pair Ekitike with Alexander Isak, Liverpool have now taken full advantage of Newcastle’s hesitation, especially as tensions rise at St James’s Park over Isak’s future.
The Swedish striker is reportedly frustrated over the lack of a new contract offer, but Newcastle are reluctant to sell, valuing Isak at an eye-watering £120 million. That price tag has forced Liverpool to shift focus and make Ekitike their primary target, particularly as he offers a similar style of play to Isak but at a far more affordable price.
Eintracht Frankfurt, who will play in the Champions League next season, are prepared to let Ekitike go for the right fee. The German side sees this summer as the perfect time to cash in and reinvest in their squad.
Liverpool’s summer spending spree has been bold and ambitious. They’ve already shelled out over £100m for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, potentially rising to £116m, as well as £29m for Jeremie Frimpong, also from Leverkusen.
Other key additions include Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for £40m and Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose £30m deal from Valencia was finalized this summer.
With Ekitike now firmly at the front of the queue, Liverpool are hoping he becomes the next world-class forward at Anfield, adding firepower to a squad determined to reclaim the Premier League title.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have shifted their sights to Brentford’s Yoann Wissa, following confirmation that Ekitike wants Liverpool. However, Wissa’s 19-goal campaign has made him vital to Brentford’s plans, especially with his attacking partner, Bryan Mbeumo, eyeing a move to Manchester United and rejecting interest from the Magpies.
That means the fallout from Ekitike’s imminent move to Liverpool could send ripples through the transfer market, affecting clubs like Brentford, Newcastle, and even Manchester United.
In this transfer saga, Liverpool are not just flexing financial muscle, they’re outmaneuvering rivals and securing a striker with sky-high potential. All eyes now turn to Anfield, where Ekitike could soon don the red shirt in a deal that could define the club’s new era.
