One of the main positions that Liverpool still need to bolster this summer is their strikeforce.
Arne Slot has already managed to bring in a couple of new faces, with the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez coming in to fill the full-back roles.
Indeed, the Reds still have Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas within their ranks, but it was evident last term that Liverpool’s left-back was one of the weakest areas of their team.
Their number nine was also fairly weak, with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo having to fill in despite being far more productive when used on the left wing.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo pictured at the premiere of the F1 Movie.
Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images
Several strikers such as Viktor Gyokeres have been linked with a Liverpool move since the start of June, but there’s one in particular who has cropped up more than the others.
Liverpool are waiting to sell Darwin Nunez before making a move for Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike is highly sought-after this summer, with Liverpool and Chelsea the teams who are seen as the most likely to sign him.
The Frenchman had something of a breakout campaign during the 2024-25 season as he managed to bag more than 10 goals for the first time in his career.
This goal-scoring form has piqued the interest of many teams across the globe, but before the Reds can even think about making a move, Darwin Nunez must be sold.
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That is, according to a report from Caught Offside, who outline that Liverpool are now ‘engaging in negotiations’ with Napoli regarding Nunez’s future.
Napoli’s bidding for Nunez has started at around £34million with Liverpool trying to hold out for £42.6million.
The report adds that if Liverpool can ‘move Nunez on,’ negotiations for Ekitike may then ‘begin.’
Darwin Nunez stands with his hands on his hips during the 2025 Carabao Cup final
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Hugo Ekitike would be a massive risk for Liverpool
As mentioned, the 2024-25 campaign was the first season in which Ekitike managed to score more than 10 goals.
The striker was tearing the Bundesliga up when Omar Marmoush was still an Eintracht Frankfurt player, but towards the tail-end of the campaign, his form dropped off.
The Frenchman is only 23 years old, and while he may have plenty of potential, Liverpool don’t have enough time on their hands to make him become a world beater as they need guaranteed results next term.
That is, especially if they want to become one of the most dominant forces in football.
Of course, only time will tell what the future holds, but on paper, it feels like a move for Ekitike is too big of a risk for Liverpool to take, especially when Frankfurt are demanding a fee worth around £85million to prise him away.