Liverpool seem to be on the hunt for a fair few players this summer, with the rumour mill working double time.
The last couple of seasons haven’t seen all that much change occur at Anfield, with only Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili coming in last term.
This summer, however, things have started differently from how many likely expected it to.
The Anfield outfit have already sold Caoimhin Kelleher and have even welcomed Jeremie Frimpong to their ranks as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Others, such as Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, have also been linked with moves away, with replacements needed should any moves be sanctioned.
Which is why it’s not all that much of a surprise to see links with Eintracht Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitike popping up left, right and centre.
Ekitike is one of the most sought-after strikers in world football at the moment.
Numerous European giants such as Liverpool and Chelsea have been linked with Ekitike after his impressive season in the Bundesliga.
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Liverpool are in desperate need of a regular scoring number nine, so it’s hardly a surprise to see Ekitike’s name linked with an Anfield switch.
But, despite the Reds’ need for a new number nine, as per a report from Fabrizio Romano via GiveMeSport, ‘no talks or negotiations’ have taken place due to their ‘priority’ being the transfer of Florian Wirtz.
The transfer guru did, however, add that he’s ‘appreciated’ at Liverpool even if a concrete move hasn’t been made.
Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool buying Hugo Ekitike would be a massive gamble
On the face of things, Ekitike looks like the perfect transfer for Arne Slot to make.
However, due to Ekitike’s eye-watering price tag of around £85million, it feels like his move would be a massive gamble.
Indeed, the Frenchman is still only 22 years old, so he has plenty of room to grow, but with the 2024-25 season being his most prolific with just 15 goals, £85million feels a tad steep.
Season League Goals
2024-25 Bundesliga 15
2023-24 (second-half) Bundesliga 4
2023-24 (first half) Ligue 1 0
2022-23 Ligue 1 3
2021-22 Ligue 1 10
2020-21 Ligue 1 0
The past five seasons of Hugo Ekitike’s career.
Other players, such as Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, feel like much safer bets and would both cost Slot considerably less.
Indeed, Sesko has scored a similar number of goals to the Frenchman this term, but looking at his history, he seems a lot more consistent.
Gyokeres is up for grabs for around £60million, which, for a player who’s contributed to 67 goals across all competitions this season, feels like a no-brainer.
Indeed, only time will tell what the future holds, but for now, it’s anyone’s guess who could end up leading Liverpool’s attacking line on the opening Premier League game of the season.