Liverpool’s year-long pursuit of a new striker is almost over with the club closing in on a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
Back in April, Virgil van Dijk looked ahead to the summer with quiet intensity.
“Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer. I think they’re planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board to do the right job.”
His words now feel prophetic.
As the summer progresses, that “big summer” is unfolding in dramatic fashion, with the Premier League champions are nearing an agreement in to completing the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth with the club finalising the details of a second offer that could signal a pivotal shift in the club’s attacking blueprint.
They are working towards a deal around €90 million (£78 million) and believe that the finer points of the latest offer, including the structure of add-ons, are close to being finalised but the deal isn’t done yet
The Reds are hopeful the improved bid will be enough to secure the French forward as their latest addition in what has already been a busy summer of recruitment.
With personal terms agreed and a transfer fee close to resolution, It is believed Ekitike and his representatives have agreed a six-year contract in principle.
The 23-year-old French striker has swiftly established himself as one of Europe’s most promising forwards. Having developed at Stade de Reims, Ekitike’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2022 held promise but limited playing time. His loan to Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2024, soon made permanent, has been transformative.
Last season, Ekitike scored 22 goals and assisted 12 in all competitions, playing a vital role in Frankfurt’s qualification for the Champions League. His combination of physicality, speed, and technical skill make him a unique prospect a forward who can both hold up play and make incisive runs behind defences.
The France U20 international’s playing style fits Arne Slot’s profile needs perfectly, filling the gaps in what the Reds have lacked in versatility, hardworking, and intelligent in movement, able to lead the line or drift wide as tactics demand.
The 2024–25 Premier League title was a triumph of persistence and quality, but Liverpool’s squad is entering a phase of transition and needing injection. The departure of long-serving players, managerial changes, and uncertainty over key players’ futures mean the club faces the complex task of both maintaining their elite status and preparing for the future.
Central to this challenge is the forward line. Darwin Núñez’s inconsistent form and mounting transfer speculation have left a glaring question mark over his Anfield future. The club urgently needs fresh attacking talent capable of both delivering immediate impact and tactical evolution under head coach Arne Slot.
The Premier League champions pursuit of Ekitike has unfolded against the backdrop of a competitive market. It’s no secret Liverpool held interest in Alexander Isak. The Swede is admired for his graceful movement and elite finishing, but Newcastle are not open to selling, and their price upwards of £120 million, potentially even £150 million for FFP accounting purposes, essentially closed the door.
Ekitike, by contrast, is gettable and — crucially — wants to make the move. Newcastle reportedly bid €80m earlier this week and were rejected. Manchester United have held long-term interest but lack momentum. Once Liverpool engaged Frankfurt, the dynamic changed.
Ekitike’s preference reportedly lies with Liverpool, influenced by the club’s history, Champions League status, and the opportunity to play under Slot, a decisive factor amid interest from other Premier League rivals.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s valuation of Ekitike at around €100 million (£86.7 million) reflects their recent success in developing and selling talent at peak value. Negotiations have centred on fee structure, payment terms, and add-ons. The coming days are critical as both clubs aim to finalise a deal that balances financial prudence with sporting ambition.
Frankfurt have accepted the likelihood of Ekitike’s departure, with the 23-year-old left out of their pre-season friendly win over FSV Frankfurt on Saturday. Head coach Dino Toppmöller acknowledged the blow after the game, saying:
“That is a bitter loss. We lost our absolute top player with Omar during the winter. It is quite possible that this will also be a thing of the past.”
Liverpool’s style demands forwards who press relentlessly, interchange positions fluidly, and possess clinical finishing. Ekitike’s game ticks all these boxes. His ability to operate as both a central striker and a drifting forward offers Slot tactical flexibility and his physicality provides a focal point often missing since Roberto Firmino’s departure, while his technical quality ensures Liverpool’s attack remains dynamic and unpredictable.
Núñez’s uncertain status adds complexity. Should he depart, Ekitike’s role becomes even more pivotal.
Liverpool’s recruitment has long focused on players with high potential approaching their peak. The success stories of Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, and Luis Díaz underline a strategy blending development with immediate impact. After adding Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to the first team squad this summer, the champions have swooped to land a player they believe can become world class.
Ekitike fits seamlessly into this philosophy a young, talented forward ready to step up at a club renowned for nurturing and maximising potential.
All of this unfolds with the future of Núñez still unresolved. The Uruguayan endured a mixed season under Jurgen Klopp, scoring in patches but often looking as though he didn’t suit the rhythm. Under Slot it look’s as though his time done and interest from Saudi Arabia suggests the club are open to offers.
What makes this particularly intriguing is that Ekitike is not short of options, including Manchester United, Newcastle and interest in Italy. But it’s Liverpool their legacy, current project, and attacking profile that has turned his head.
Eintracht Frankfurt are shrewd operators. They sold Randal Kolo Muani to PSG for €95 million last year and offloaded Omar Marmoush to Man City for €80m. Ekitike, in their view, is in that echelon.
But sources close to the deal suggest Liverpool believe a package of £75–80 million could be enough, depending on how payments are structured. Bonuses, clauses, and resale percentages may all be used to bridge the final gap.
Liverpool’s last great striker was Luis Suárez. The most reliable one since Roberto Firmino. Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo had their moments, but since Firmino’s decline and eventual departure the Reds have lacked a true system-leading number 9.
Hugo Ekitike may not arrive with Suárez’s or Firmino’s tenacity, but there’s belief inside the club that he could offer a new solution — one rooted in evolution rather than nostalgia.
Should this deal go through, the 23-year-old would become Arne Slot’s fourth major signing of the window. The total spend would push past £250 million, one of the largest in club history.
But, importantly, it signals intent. When Van Dijk said “trust the board”, he wasn’t just offering blind faith. He was pointing to a club that, despite transition at the top, still knows how to identify a window of opportunity.
Arne Slot is no longer just bridging the Klopp era, but is now building something entirely new to compete domestically and in Europe for years to come.
Hugo Etikite and Liverpool it is going to get done and it’s a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ it will happen.
The investment is not without risk, but as Van Dijk said, the club was always going to need a “big summer” and you don’t get that without bold moves.
