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Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt(Image: Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Liverpool have been told Hugo Ekitike would jump at the chance of a move to Anfield should they make an official bid for the French forward.

The Reds have opened talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over Ekitike with the expectation they will lodge an offer for the 23-year-old.

Liverpool are ramping up their search for a new striker with both Ekitike and Newcastle United's Alexander Isak leading their shortlist.

Ekitike, who previously played for Reims and Paris Saint-Germain, has become one of Europe's most in-demand forwards after an impressive few years with Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

READ MORE:Liverpool end interest in striker as Arsenal close in on dealREAD MORE:Liverpool open talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over Hugo Ekitike transfer

Newcastle saw a bid of €80m (£69.4m) rejected on Tuesday by Frankfurt, who want nearer to €100m (£86.7m) for the player.

Subsequent reports on Thursday morning have claimed the Magpies have now ended their pursuit of the striker, leaving Liverpool a clear road if they make a concrete proposal.

And in any case, the expectation among German football insiders is that Ekitike would choose a move to Anfield ahead of one to the North East.

“What I do hear is that Ekitike is not for sale, but we know the strategy of Eintracht Frankfurt," said Jan Aage Fjortoft, a former Frankfurt forward.

“They signed Muani to PSG for €95+5million, they sold Marmoush to Manchester City for €80m.

He is being the joker in the Liverpool-Newcastle thing.

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“If Liverpool can’t get Isak, maybe they will go for Ekitike.

What I do understand is that the player prefers to play for Liverpool."

Speaking to ESPN, Fjortoft added: “But, he is very relaxed because he knows he can play in the Champions League with Eintracht Frankfurt, and Eintracht Frankfurt, for the first time in a long, long time, they don’t have to sell because they have already done that with Champions League qualification and the sales of Marmoush and Muani.

“But I can tell you, Ekitike prefers Liverpool Football Club.”


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