Agent reveals how Liverpool hijacked Hugo Ekitike from Newcastle United
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesGoing into the summer transfer window, not too many Liverpool fans were expecting the club to sign Hugo Ekitike.
The attention was on Alexander Isak, but once Newcastle United thwarted the Reds opening bid of around £110m for the Swede – Liverpool changed tack.
Instead of trying to accelerate that deal, Arne Slot pivoted to a Magpies striker target in Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool paid Eintracht Frankfurt an initial guaranteed fee of £69 million (€79.5 million) for the Frenchman, with an additional £10 million (€11.5 million) expected to come through performance-related add-ons.
Many reports claimed that the Magpies were keen on playing Ekitike and Isak together, and they will be but just on Merseyside and not at St James’ Park.
It represented another cruel blow for Eddie Howe’s side, who spent the entire summer trying to get striking reinforcements and eventually landed on Nick Woltemade for a club-record fee believed to be around £69 million.
And it has now been revealed just how simply Liverpool came in and swooped up the Newcastle target
Super-agent Ali Barat has revealed to Tuttosport that he was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to help close the deal to Newcastle United – spending 10 days in Germany and ironing out the agreement between the two clubs.
Even after everything was agreed, he states a simple phone call from Liverpool was enough to change everything.
Barat was asked: “Is there a player you would have liked to transfer during this summer transfer window but weren’t able to secure?”
The agent responded:
“Hugo Ekitike.”
“I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle.
“I stayed in Germany for ten days
We agreed everything with the German club and the player, then Liverpool called him and he chose Anfield.”
READ MORE: Hugo Ekitike reveals feelings on Alexander Isak signing
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