Liverpool's season will now end without silverware as the club were dealt a triple blow in their Champions League elimination
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Liverpool's nightmare season continues to go from bad to worse with Hugo Ekitike the latest victim of a disappointing campaign. The Reds crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday after their 2-0 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain which marked a 4-0 aggregate defeat to the holders of the competition.
To add insult to injury, the French striker was stretchered off in the second half with a reported Achilles injury, likely putting an end to his debut season in Merseyside. Liverpool fans aren't the only ones thinking ahead towards the summer transfer window with Arne Slot already commenting on the club's possible business.
Hugo Ekitike injury implication
Hugo Ekitike injured
Hugo Ekitike appeared to have picked up an Achilles injury against PSG (Image: Getty Images)
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According to The Athletic, Ekitike will be out of action for several months due to the injury he suffered against the French champions. The outlet claims to have been told by sources that the France international has sustained a suspected Achilles rupture that is set to rule him out of the World Cup in June.
Not only would the 23-year-old miss out on his first opportunity to represent his country in a major tournament, given the seriousness of the injury, Ekitike would also be unavailable for the opening months of next season too.
Should that be the case, the report adds, it could have crucial implications on Liverpool's transfer business. Taking into account that Salah is set to leave the club with Federico Chiesa likely to depart too, the Reds could go into the 26/27 season with an attack consisting of just Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha which could force them to act in the summer window.
Arne Slot admits challenge
Describing the club as one in "transition", Arne Slot admitted after the PSG defeat that the loss of Salah and Robertson on free transfers has added to the challenge he'll have to return the club to contending for and winning titles.
He told Prime Video: "Now we are losing Mo and Andy Robertson on a free transfer as we lost Trent [Alexander-Arnold] and this model of the club means we need to sell, usually, to buy. So it's a big challenge. It was already last season. It's going to be a challenge in the summer again."
Arne Slot speaks to media
Arne Slot admitted Liverpool will be challenged in the summer transfer market(Image: Getty Images)
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"This club has also shown many times that this model works and we can be very successful with his model," Slot added. Tuesday's defeat confirmed that the Dutchman's second season at Anfield will end without trophies but he chose to remain upbeat about his team's future.
He added: "I think we have signed very good and talented players. Now let's hope they are all fit. That most of them go into their second season in the Premier League. As I've said many times, the future looks really good, especially if we can add a few good signings after the players leaving this summer."
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