Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, with the Premier League champions paying an initial £69 million, with potential add-ons taking the total fee to £79m (€90m), according to The Athletic.
Ekitike is expected to undergo a medical before flying to Hong Kong to join Arne Slot’s squad on their pre-season tour. The 23-year-old will sign a six-year contract, having prioritised a move to Anfield throughout talks. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
Ekitike enjoyed a standout 2024-25 campaign with Frankfurt, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists. His form earned him a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Season. After initially arriving on loan from PSG in January 2024, he made the move permanent last summer for €17.5m.
Newcastle United previously saw a €75m bid rejected and have since turned their attention to Brentford’s Yoane Wissa. Meanwhile, Liverpool have also made an approach for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and are prepared to pay £120m, but negotiations remain unresolved.
Liverpool are prioritising a new No 9 after the death of Diogo Jota. Darwin Nunez could leave this summer, while Luis Diaz has informed the club of his desire to depart amid interest from Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Slot’s side have already signed Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez as part of their summer rebuild. Ekitike’s arrival adds a mobile, clinical forward to the mix as Liverpool prepare to defend their Premier League title.
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