Whereas Alexander Isak stays Liverpool’s high centre-forward goal, there’s good purpose for the Reds to have made an strategy for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
Newcastle have already had a bid of £70 million turned down for Ekitike, and the Frenchman is drawing consideration from a number of different golf equipment, most notably Liverpool.
This Is Anfield understands Liverpool are shifting ahead of their strategy for the 23-year-old, with the Frankfurt ahead the favorite to signal ought to they fail to accumulate Isak this summer season.
We spoke to commentator Dan O’Hagan (@danohagan on X), who often covers the Bundesliga, about Ekitike’s enjoying model and the way he compares to different forwards doubtlessly on the transfer this summer season.
Why is there a lot curiosity in Hugo Ekitike?
As a result of he’s not your common centre-forward.
He hyperlinks up play very well, is technically wonderful. He jogs my memory a little bit of Thierry Henry, the way in which he’s obtained this form of leggy gait.
He’s not prolific – 15 league targets was his greatest ever final season for Frankfurt – however he’s wished as a result of he’s obtained potential.
How has his profession developed?
He has had a humorous profession. He started at Reims in France, then he obtained a transfer to PSG perhaps a bit too younger.
He made that step from Reims, who’re a reasonably small membership in France, to PSG. They paid good cash and this was the type of tail finish of PSG’s galacticos, so it was powerful to get sport time. It didn’t work on the market.
He was wished by Frankfurt two years in the past however it didn’t come off. He went there 18 months in the past to exchange Randal Kolo Muani who moved on to PSG.
I believe the step all the way down to Frankfurt did him the world of fine as a result of, all of a sudden, he had gone from being this small fish in a giant pond at PSG to being the principle man once more, as he was at Reims.
How has he carried out at Frankfurt?
He scored targets from the get-go however final season actually kicked on. He linked up so nicely with Omar Marmoush earlier than he was offered in January to Man Metropolis.
I believe with Ekitike, he’s a really unselfish striker. He does convey others into the sport.
Technically, his contact and his steadiness are distinctive for a man who’s actually tall and actually leggy. There’s a grace to his sport.
I believe he’s obtained some extent to show as nicely as a result of clearly Liverpool could be a step again as much as the highest degree, and having had it not work out at PSG, at 23 years previous perhaps now could be the time to attempt his luck once more at a high, high membership.
How would you evaluate Ekitike to the likes of Alvarez, Sesko, Gyokeres and Isak?
He’s very totally different to all these gamers. I can’t actually consider a present participant I can actually evaluate him to.
He simply brings a skillset which is sort of distinctive at that degree. I simply assume Ekitike is his personal participant.
Why is now the appropriate time for Hugo Ekitike to maneuver?
If Liverpool get him, he’ll be an awesome asset to the squad. He’s at that age now, 23, when he’s in all probability due that subsequent crack on the high, high degree.
, Frankfurt are a giant membership, certified for the Champions League once more for subsequent season, however they’re not Liverpool. It’s not the Premier League.
For him to essentially break into the French squad as nicely, he wants that subsequent step.
If Liverpool did get him, he could be a very good asset and it could be good for the participant as nicely to attempt himself at that increased grade once more.
* Because of Dan O’Hagan for the lowdown on Hugo Ekitike – you may observe him on X @danohagan.
