Liverpool have suffered a potential blow with the news that a £75.5m-rated transfer target could reportedly be on his way to one of their biggest rivals this summer.
The Reds may not have signed anyone yet ahead of next season, but the early signs look incredibly promising, with a host of top-quality names mentioned as serious targets.
Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz is the most eye-catching option, as Liverpool look to seal a potential club-record signing of the German.
Meanwhile, his Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong is also thought to be close to joining the Premier League champions, as is Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.
Another reported target is Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, and while Caught Offside claim that he is still wanted by Liverpool, they state that rivals Manchester United are “believed to be in advanced stages of internal planning around a formal bid”, arguably putting them in pole position to sign the £75.5m-rated ace.
Ekitike a fantastic option for Liverpool
The idea of Ekitike joining United is bad for two reasons for Liverpool, not only because it would see them miss out on him, but also due to their most bitter rivals snapping up a top striker.
The 22-year-old is a huge talent with a big future in the game, with former Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder paying him enormous praise, saying:
“I might say something really crazy, but I’ll say it anyway: I think he’s a mix between Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe. I sincerely think so. He has the grace of Neymar, but also the movements of Mbappe. To suddenly accelerate, that’s something that Mbappe also has. And he’s only 22 years old. There’s really a lot of potential in this boy.”
The 22-year-old Ekitike should continue to stand out as a leading No.9 option for Liverpool this summer, especially as Alexander Isak is highly unlikely to join from Newcastle United, not least because the Magpies have secured a return to the Champions League.
There is still a rawness to his game, given his age, but he could come in and be a star from the off, developing into a world-class player over time, and he would surely prefer the Reds over United currently.