Liverpool are laying the groundwork for a potential future without Egyptian king Mohamed Salah, with a surprise move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike now on the cards.
The Reds' recruitment team, led by the astute Michael Edwards, is proactively scouring the market for attacking reinforcements. This comes amid the persistent and looming threat of another colossal bid from the Saudi Pro League for their talismanic forward, Salah, potentially as soon as the January window.
Ekitike: The Parisian Outcast on Liverpool's Radar
According to exclusive reports from France, 21-year-old Hugo Ekitike has emerged as a concrete target. The young Frenchman finds himself frozen out and training away from the first team at the Parc des Princes after a proposed £30m move to Eintracht Frankfurt collapsed spectacularly in the summer.
With no path back into Luis Enrique's plans and his contract expiring in 2027, PSG are desperate to cash in. This has put several Premier League clubs on high alert, with Liverpool now joining the race for his signature.
A Strategic, Low-Risk Gamble for the Reds
Ekitike represents the exact profile of player Liverpool's data-driven model often targets: young, possessing high potential, and available at a cut-price due to difficult circumstances. A loan move with an obligation to buy is being discussed as a potential structure for the deal, mitigating the financial risk for the Merseyside club.
While not a direct like-for-like replacement for Salah's goal output, Ekitike offers a different skillset. His pace, ability to run in behind defences, and raw talent align with Jurgen Klopp's high-octane system, offering a project for the famed coaching staff to develop.
The Ever-Present Shadow of Salah's Exit
The pursuit of Ekitike is intrinsically linked to the ongoing saga surrounding Mohamed Salah. Al-Ittihad's public courting of the forward is expected to intensify, and Liverpool's hierarchy, having resisted a £150m bid last summer, knows a world-record offer could test their resolve in January.
This potential move signals that the Anfield club is not being caught off guard. Securing a promising attacker like Ekitike early in the window would be a shrewd piece of business, providing cover and an option for the future before any saga around their star man reaches its climax.
