The dawn of the 2025/26 Premier League season is just days away, and clubs have splashed big in the transfer market. High-profile arrivals such as Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP, Benjamin Šeško from RB Leipzig, and Liverpool’s marquee signing Hugo Ekitike are all set to make their league debuts.
This campaign promises to be one for the history books, with top-flight teams investing heavily to tactically reinforce their squads. The summer window has been dominated by forward signings, with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal leading the charge to bolster their attacking firepower.
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Unsurprisingly, the No. 9 role has been at the heart of transfer discussions. Clubs have moved to secure proven goalscorers and penalty-box predators — whether to defend a title, as in Liverpool’s case, or to mount a serious challenge for domestic and European glory.
Interestingly, the modern centre-forward role has evolved into a variety of specialised profiles. Data from the 2024/25 season illustrates this perfectly through three prolific strikers: Šeško, Ekitike, and Gyökeres.
Their percentile radar charts reveal three radically different — yet equally effective — blueprints for success in front of goal.
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1. Benjamin Šeško (RB Leipzig > Manchester United): The Phantom Poacher
Age 22 | Minutes played: 2,527 | Key Strength: Ruthless Efficiency
Manchester United have offloaded several players from their squad, including local favourite Marcus Rashford, and rumours persist that Rasmus Højlund could also be on the move before the transfer window closes. In response, Rubén Amorim has strengthened his attack with additions such as Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and the recent signing of Benjamin Šeško.
Šeško embodies the “less is more” philosophy. His radar is a study in targeted excellence. During the 24/25 season his aerial dominance reached 91.0%. A top-percentile aerial threat, as Šeško was Leipzig’s primary outlet for crosses and long balls.
His clinical conversion rate peaked to 70.2%, despite modest chance volume (npxG: 40.8%), he finished at an elite rate – maximising limited service. In terms of Minimalist Involvement, he had extremely low “Touches in Box” (29.8%) and xA (46.7%) confirm his role: hover on the shoulder, win headers, finish.
System Fit: Perfect for a transition system. He capitalises on midfield creativity without needing buildup touches.
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2. Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt > Liverpool): The Chance Architect
Age 22 | Minutes: 2,740 | Key Strength: Creative Hub
With the exit of Darwin Nunez from Liverpool, Hugo Ekitike seems to be the perfect replacement for Arne Slot’s side.
Hugo Ekitike defies traditional striker conventions, operating as Frankfurt’s offensive engine rather than a pure finisher. His elite chance creation (xA: 91.8%) showcases a false-nine playmaker who unlocks defenses with incisive passing, while his magnetic presence in the box (Touches: 94.9%) constantly disrupts defensive lines and creates space for teammates.
Though he generates elite scoring volume (npxG: 96.5%), his lower conversion rate (41.2%) underscores his role as a creator first and finisher second. Complemented by formidable physicality (Off Duels Won: 85.1%), Ekitike thrives as a duel-winning hub in tight spaces – a modern hybrid redefining the No. 9 role through buildup mastery.
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3. Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP > Arsenal): The Complete Colossus
Age 26 | Minutes: 3,087 | Key Strength: Omnipotence
Viktor Gyökeres isn’t just elite – he redefined the term as a revelation at Sporting CP, with near-perfect percentiles confirming a striker operating at his absolute peak.
His status as a goal machine (NPG: 98.4% | npxG: 97.6%) is underlined by ruthless efficiency, burying chances at a staggering 95.3% conversion rate. A true box tyrant (Touches: 99.6%), he dominates the penalty area with a rare fusion of target-man presence and poacher instincts.
Yet Gyökeres transcends pure finishing: as a creative force (xA: 90.2%), his intelligent hold-up play consistently unlocks defences for teammates. Completing this arsenal, he’s a physical monster (Aerial%: 76.5% | Off Duels: 98.8%) – utterly unplayable in 1v1 battles while dominating duels on the ground and in the air.
The verdict is undeniable: Gyökeres is the prototype modern striker, combining relentless volume, surgical efficiency, creative vision, and brute-force physicality across a mammoth 3,087 minutes. A true unicorn whose all-encompassing excellence sets a new benchmark for the position.
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Šeško suits reactive systems needing a focal point. Ekitike thrives in dominant teams valuing creativity over pure goals. Gyökeres is the plug-and-play superstar for any elite side.
This trio proves there’s no “right” way to play No. 9. Šeško’s efficiency, Ekitike’s creativity, and Gyökeres’ completeness all deliver results through radically different means. In an era of tactical fragmentation, their 24/25 data isn’t just a comparison – it’s a manifesto for positional evolution.
Photo: Alex Grimm/Getty Images
