Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike.

The Reds upped their attempts to sign Ekitike after it became clear that Newcastle United were advancing during the middle of the week.

But once Liverpool entered the frame, it seemed the Frenchman’s mind was made up: he only wanted the Reds.

After an agreement was reached between Liverpool and Eintracht late on Saturday evening, things are expected to move ahead even further on Sunday.

Eintracht Frankfurt make Hugo Ekitike decision ahead of friendly clash	Eintracht Frankfurt admit ‘huge loss’ after Liverpool submit £78 million Hugo Ekitike offer	Eintracht Frankfurt admit ‘huge loss’ after Liverpool agree £82 million Hugo Ekitike deal

The first sign that things were definitively going Liverpool’s way with Ekitike was when the 23-year-old was left out of his team’s friendly match on Saturday.

And having kept his star striker on the bench throughout the 90 minutes, Eintracht manager Dino Toppmoller all-but confirmed Ekitike’s departure.

Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Ekitike has been a star performer for Eintracht ever since arriving on loan from PSG in January 2024.

Subsequently bought for an absolute fraction of the fee he is set to cost Liverpool, the France U21 star represents another brilliant piece of business for the Bundesliga side.

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And although Toppmoller did praise the club for once again turning a huge profit on a player, he did admit that losing Ekitike is a big blow.

“He didn’t play, but you can imagine everything else,” the manager said via Kicker after his team beat FSV Frankfurt 3-2.

“It’s sensational for everyone that this is paying off.”

READ MORE: Jamie Carragher gave an interesting early verdict on Liverpool and Hugo Ekitike back in April

But Toppmoller did admit to having ‘a smile and a tear’ over Ekitike’s imminent exit, conceding that losing the former PSG man was ‘a bitter loss.’

“This is a bitter loss,” he said.

So I think we need to temper expectations a bit overall.”

As Ekitike was being left out of his team’s friendly on Saturday, even more noise was being made over in Glasgow, with Alexander Isak being given the same treatment.

Rousing The Kop exclusively revealed that Liverpool have not left the table for Isak just yet, and it appears that, in theory, the Reds are willing to bring the Swede in as well as Ekitike.

Eddie Howe confirmed after Newcastle’s 4-0 loss against Celtic that Isak had been left out of the squad following all the ‘speculation’ over his future.

While Howe also claimed that he is ‘confident’ of his star striker being at the club at the end of the window, the whole episode did not suggest Isak is completely happy with the situation.

Liverpool will continue to keep tabs on the matter right up until the point Isak signs a new contract with Newcastle.
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