(Credit: Imago/Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Jonathan Burnett

Thu 14 August 2025 8:30, UK

Arne Slot is yet to decide if he’s satisfied with Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa as his centre-forward options at Liverpool.

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Other than club-record transfer Florian Wirtz, Ekitike is arguably Liverpool’s headline signing of the summer so far, after they beat Newcastle to a £69million move for the Eintracht Frankfurt striker.

Ekitike started and scored within four minutes of his Liverpool debut against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, and the Frenchman’s impact was missed after his 71st minute substitution.

Liverpool’s lack of central presence following Ekitike’s withdrawal has reinforced their need for more depth in the frontline, with another club-record move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak still on the cards.

Isak moving to Liverpool could hinder Ekitke and Chiesa (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Slot‘s continued pursuit of Isak puts Ekitike’s starting position under threat despite his immediate impact at Wembley, and also leaves the writing on the wall for Chiesa’s stuttering Liverpool career.

Chiesa has been heavily linked with a departure after just one season at Anfield and Mick Brown told Football Insider that Liverpool will accept bids of £10m for the Italian, breaking even after 12 months.

The ex-Juventus forward clearly has his full focus on the task at hand, however, after he posted on Instagram on 13 August to display his pre-season preparations for Slot’s side.

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Chiesa captioned his post with a pair of pinch and smiling emojis, and Ekitike was one of several Liverpool players to leave a like for the Italy international.

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Football Insider Verdict

Rio Ngumoha‘s emergence as a genuine first-team option this summer has left Liverpool reluctant to make left-wing signings in an effort to not stunt his development, leaving Chiesa’s future uncertain.

The Italian is already firmly behind Cody Gakpo in the Reds’ pecking order, and Isak’s potential arrival at Anfield could also spell danger for the Italian given his ability to operate as a left-inside forward.

Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz and Mohamed Salah forming Liverpool’s front four is bad news for the rest of the Premier League, but could also be bad news for Chiesa’s chances of increased game-time this term.

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