Liverpool signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle United despite already bringing Hugo Ekitike to the club, and French football journalist Julien Laurens has suggested that the former Eintracht Frankfurt forward wouldn't have signed if he knew they were going to bring in Isak.
After winning the Premier League during the 2024/2025 season, major reinforcements weren't exactly necessary for the Merseyside club, but that didn't stop them spending significantly in the summer market. The Reds smashed their transfer record twice, securing the signature of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen before then signing Isak.
Ekitike and Isak are now competing for one striker position in Arne Slot's system, and it's hard to imagine a world where the latter doesn't start, considering the fee they paid to bring him in. Ekitike might not be best pleased to have seen Liverpool sign Isak after him, and that's the opinion of French football expert Laurens.
Ekitike Wouldn't Have Signed for Liverpool if he Knew Isak Was Joining
Hugo Ekitike in action for Eintracht Frankfurt
Speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport, Laurens suggested that he doesn't think Ekitike would have signed for Liverpool if he knew Isak was also going to be joining the club. Laurens adds that it's never going to be Ekitike over Isak in the starting XI, unless the latter isn't fit.
"I really don't think so [would have signed if he knew Isak was coming]. I really think he signed after a first approach from Liverpool to Newcastle for Isak, when Newcastle closed the door. From a Liverpool point of view, that was before Isak went on strike or stopped training with them. Then, they kind of reverted to Ekitike who was on his way to Newcastle in the first place."
"We knew that as soon as Isak would be fit, the one to be dropped would be Ekitike. It was just very clear. Can they play together? Of course they can through games, you can play Ekitike, maybe a bit on the left, but that's not his position really."
"It's never going to be Ekitike ahead of Isak unless Isak is not fit."
It's an interesting take from Laurens, but it's entirely possible that Ekitike wouldn't want to make the move to Anfield if he was going to play second fiddle. Liverpool did also spend significantly to bring Ekitike to the club, so it will be interesting to see whether Slot does try and fit them both in the same side.