Hugo Ekitike has been prolific to start the season at Liverpool, but his impressive form may not be enough to earn a call-up to the French national team. The 23-year-old striker moved to Anfield in the summer for a deal that could rise to £79 million and has already scored twice in two Premier League appearances, as well as finding the net in the Community Shield.
Despite his strong performances, reports from Le Figaro suggest that France manager Didier Deschamps still believes it is 'too soon' for Ekitike to be selected for Les Bleus. Deschamps is expected to name his squad on Wednesday for upcoming matches against Ukraine and Iceland, but Ekitike is likely to be overlooked once again.
The snub could lead Ekitike to reconsider his international future. The striker is eligible to play for Cameroon through his heritage and may switch his allegiance to the African nation in search of regular football on the international stage. Cameroon have been a consistent presence at the World Cup, having qualified for six of the last eight tournaments, with their best performance coming in 1990 when they reached the quarter-finals.
Ekitike faces stiff competition in the French attacking lineup, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele established in the squad. Deschamps is reportedly looking more favourably at younger talents such as Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise, and Desire Doue. Meanwhile, Liverpool continue to pursue Alexander Isak, which could see Ekitike's role at the club shift to the wings—a position he has admitted he can play.
