FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - APRIL 26: Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig at Deutsche Bank Park on April 26, 2025 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike (Getty)
Liverpool have entered the race with Chelsea to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, according to reports in Germany.
The 22-year-old has just finished his first full season at Frankfurt, scoring 22 goals in 48 appearances for the Bundesliga side.
Frankfurt initially signed Ekitike on loan from Paris Saint-Germain last year before the deal was made permanent for €16.5 million (£14m).
Chelsea have already registered their interest in Ekitike ahead of the summer transfer window but according to Sky Germany, Liverpool have also made an approach for the French striker.
The report claims that ‘initial talks’ have been held with Liverpool manager Arne Slot and Michael Edwards, FSG’s CEO of football, ‘putting the feelers out’ for Ekitike.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Chelsea are said to be Liverpool’s biggest competitor for Ekitike, while Frankfurt are holding out for a €100m (£83.9m) transfer fee for the forward.
FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, GERMANY - MAY 17: Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates the victory after the Bundesliga match between Sport-Club Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt at Europa-Park Stadion on May 17, 2025 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian El-Saqqa - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike scored 22 goals for Eintracht Frankfurt this season (Getty)
Frankfurt are in a strong negotiating position as Ekitike still has four years remaining on his current contract with the Bundesliga side.
Speaking on the final day of the Bundesliga season, Frankfurt’s sporting director, Markus Krosche, refused to rule out the prospect of selling Ekitike this summer.
‘He’s one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that,’ Krosche told Sport 1.
‘I’m glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that’s our motto – if a player develops faster than us, we let him go.’
Frankfurt sealed a 3-1 win against Freiburg to secured a third-placed finish in the Bundesliga, which has earned them a place in next season’s Champions League.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Arsenal to complete first summer signing with £51million transfer target set for medical
MORE: Spanish teams’ record in major finals is unreal ahead of Chelsea vs Real Betis
MORE: Ian Wright disappointed Arsenal missed out on signing £50m star this summer