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Hugo Ekitike has become Liverpool's fifth major signing of the summer(Image: Liverpoolfc.com)

Hugo Ekitike had already dropped a hint about his move to Liverpool before negotiations for his £79million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt even began, thanks to Steven Gerrard.

The French striker sealed his move to the Premier League champions on Wednesday, penning a six-year deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2031.

The 23-year-old has just enjoyed the most successful season of his career with the Bundesliga outfit, netting 22 goals and setting up 12 more in 48 appearances across all competitions.

Despite Newcastle United having a bid turned down by Frankfurt, Ekitike was destined for Merseyside after Arne Slot's side entered the race for the forward following the Magpies' failed attempt.

Although their initial offer was rejected, a second bid of £69m upfront plus £10m in add-ons led to a preliminary agreement between the two clubs, making the striker Liverpool's fifth major acquisition of the summer.

Liverpool's top brass moved swiftly to secure a deal for Ekitike, first reaching out to the player's representatives in January before Slot had a conversation with him at the end of the season.

However, talks with Frankfurt only got underway after Newcastle's bid was rebuffed 10 days ago.

Earlier this summer, Ekitike fuelled speculation about a possible switch to Anfield when he was seen sporting a vintage Liverpool shirt with Gerrard's name on the back, reports the Mirror.

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The France U21 international was snapped training at the Marbella Football Centre, believed to be in June, donning the Reds' away kit thought to be from the 1998/99 campaign.

The strip displayed the former Liverpool captain's initial squad number of 28 from what was his debut season in professional football.

Ekitike sported the No.

11 at Frankfurt, though his preferred number is presently held by Mohamed Salah.

He's now been allocated a provisional squad number of 54, mirroring the rest of his new colleagues as the Reds are presumably waiting on multiple departures before assigning their summer acquisitions permanent numbers.

Arne Slot will now have a new number nine at his disposal this season(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Article continues below

Following 17 months in Frankfurt, Liverpool supporters will be pleased to learn that he was regarded highly by his former team-mate Mario Gotze, who himself nearly secured an Anfield switch in 2016 to reunite with Jurgen Klopp.

Speaking to beIN Sports last year, the German World Cup winner commented: "I think Hugo Ekitike has an ability that few players have with his dribbling, his finishing, and his speed.

Of course, he can help us [Frankfurt] a lot.

"We saw it last year: we simply need everyone to be at 100 per cent.
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