Liverpool are on the verge of completing the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee of £79 million, with the French striker set to undergo a medical today. The deal includes a guaranteed £69 million plus £10 million in add-ons tied to the success of both Liverpool and Ekitike.
The Athletic reports that Manchester United attempted to hijack the transfer last week, but Ekitike had already committed to Liverpool. The 23-year-old has agreed personal terms on a six-year contract, keeping him at Anfield until 2031.
Ekitike would become Liverpool's seventh signing of the summer, following Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi, and Freddie Woodman. The spending would take Liverpool's total to nearly £300 million this window.
Liverpool finished 10 points clear of Arsenal and 13 ahead of Manchester City last season. Former Premier League winner Alan Shearer believes their early transfer business puts them in pole position to retain the title, highlighting the potential impact of signings like Wirtz and Kerkez.
