Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche has told Liverpool and Chelsea they won’t lower their asking price for striker Hugo Ekitike.
The Bundesliga side are holding out for a fee in the region of €100m (£85m), and speaking to the press about the striker’s future, Krosche said his club are not under any pressure to lower their valuation:
“If the price isn’t right, then he’ll just stay with us. We don’t have to sell Hugo.”
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Ekitike had an excellent season for Frankfurt, scoring 25 goals in all competitions, and it seems Frankfurt won’t let him leave on the cheap.
Liverpool and Chelsea are “still in the race”
Despite Frankfurt’s eyewatering demands, Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg insists that Premier League teams remain keen on securing Ekitike’s signature this summer.
Writing on his X account, Plettenberg said the Reds and Chelsea are “still in the race”, although he didn’t elaborate on whether either team would step up their attempts to sign the forward by tabling a formal bid.
Are alternatives to Ekitike being considered?
While it appears that several members of Liverpool’s recruitment team are big fans of the 22-year-old, he is by no means the only No.9 on the club’s radar.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is a player that the Merseysiders would like to buy, but the Swedish international would cost even more than Ekitike.
There have been fresh links to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. He would be cheaper than the Frankfurt striker, as he has a €75m (£64m) release clause, but there are concerns about his wage demands.
Benjamin Sesko is another potential option, although many believe that his first choice would be to join Arsenal, with the Gunners having already started talks with his club RB Leipzig.
In other news, Liverpool are reportedly targeting a Brazilian teenager who could well be Mo Salah’s long-term replacement