A super-agent has revealed why Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike did not join Newcastle United in the summer transfer window, and the striker is not the only player who turned down the chance to move to St. James’ Park to play for Arne Slot at Anfield.
Liverpool and Newcastle were involved in the biggest transfer saga of the summer, with Alexander Isak switching from last season’s Carabao Cup winners to the defending Premier League champions only on the final day of the window. It was a British record transfer and cost Liverpool £125million (€144m, $169m).
However, it was not the only transfer battle that Liverpool and Newcastle were involved in.
Before Liverpool signed Isak, the Merseyside club secured the services of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt back in July.
Liverpool paid Eintracht an initial and guaranteed fee of £69m (€79.5m, $93.2m) for Ekitike, with a further £10m (€11.5m, $13.5m) to come in add-ons.
The defending Premier League champions, though, made the move for Ekitike only after they were rebuffed by Newcastle when they approached the Magpies for Isak.
It was a cruel blow for Newcastle, who were in advanced talks with Eintracht and Ekitike.
Super-agent Ali Barat has now revealed to TuttoSport that he was working on the deal to take the 23-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain striker – who was described as ‘the perfect centre-forward’ on TNT Sports in April 2025 by former Manchester Utd midfielder Owen Hargreaves – to Newcastle.
Barat was asked: “Is there a player you would have liked to transfer during this summer transfer window but weren’t able to secure?”
The super agent responded: “Hugo Ekitike.
“I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle.
“I stayed in Germany for ten days. We agreed everything with the German club and the player, then Liverpool called him and he chose Anfield.”
DON’T MISS 🔴 Liverpool ‘front-runners’ in bargain deal for ‘leader’ after talks
Giovanni Leoni also rejected Newcastle for Liverpool
Ekitike is not the only player who snubbed the chance to play for Newcastle to join Liverpool and turn out for Slot.
Giovanni Leoni also had the opportunity to play for Newcastle, but the 18-year-old Italian centre-back made the decision to switch to Liverpool instead, with Parma even rejecting a bigger offer from the Magpies.
Parma chairman Federico Cherubini told Gazzetta di Parma: “I’ve always said we wanted to keep him, and he’s always said he’d be happy to stay here.
“We even turned down an offer from Newcastle, which was more advantageous than the one Liverpool eventually made.
“When the Reds came forward, our plans changed: both because the offer was very attractive and because the player made it clear he was very happy to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Latest Liverpool news: Real Madrid competition, Bayern Munich rejection
A £50million star that Liverpool missed out on has been tipped to win a prestigious award, as he goes from strength to strength for his national team and his new club.
Liverpool’s plan to sign a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah could be ruined by Kylian Mbappe, who has told the star to join Real Madrid instead.
A Liverpool star has revealed that he turned down the chance to sign for Bayern Munich and has disclosed how he feels at Anfield now.
POLL: How many goals will Hugo Ekitike score for Liverpool in his first season at the club?