Liverpool have signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal that could rise to £79m, making him Arne Slot’s first major acquisition. The 23-year-old French striker has been told by Slot that he will play as a number nine, with the ability to drop deeper and link play, according to reports.
The Reds’ spending spree also includes Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m, Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for £40m. Ekitike has joined his new teammates in Hong Kong for the club’s pre-season tour, signing a six-year contract on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Liverpool remain at the front of the queue for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who has told the Magpies he wants to explore a move away. The Daily Mail reports that a deal for the Sweden international could cost around £150m, with Liverpool potentially selling players to finance the transfer.
If Isak arrives, he is expected to play as an out-and-out centre-forward, which could initially limit Ekitike’s role. However, with a heavy fixture schedule domestically and in Europe, Slot believes the Frenchman will still get ample game time and can eventually challenge for the starting spot.
