Liverpool Nearing Deal for Hugo Ekitike as Frankfurt Pursues Record Sale

Liverpool has made a major breakthrough in their attempt to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. According to reports, the two clubs have reached an outline agreement, and Liverpool is now working to finalize the transfer, which could be completed shortly.

If all conditions, including add-ons, are met, Ekitike’s sale might set a new record for Frankfurt. The current record was set when Randal Kolo Muani transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 for around £64.2 million plus add-ons.

Recent speculation suggests that Ekitike was benched from Frankfurt’s recent friendly match amid ongoing transfer talks. The 23-year-old forward scored 22 goals in 48 appearances for Frankfurt last season, with 15 of those goals coming in the Bundesliga. His impressive performance earned him a spot in the Bundesliga team of the season.

Ekitike has prior experience at Paris Saint-Germain, initially joining on loan from Reims before making a permanent move. However, his time at PSG was limited, with only 33 appearances and four goals scored.

In addition to their pursuit of Ekitike, Liverpool have been active in the transfer market this summer. The club recently signed Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, as well as Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. Meanwhile, some players have already departed, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, who moved to Real Madrid, and Jarell Quansah, who signed for Bayer Leverkusen.

Though Liverpool was linked to other strikers such as Alexander Isak, their recent focus appears to be on securing Ekitike, who has also played for France at the Under-21 level.

Last season, Ekitike showcased his scoring ability with 22 goals across all competitions for Frankfurt, highlighting his potential as a top attacker in the league.