Liverpool are likely to sign themselves a new striker before the summer transfer window closes.

The Reds have found it difficult to find the right player to lead the line in recent years, with an over-reliance on the goals of Mohamed Salah beginning to form.

This has led to the Liverpool recruitment team prioritising a centre-forward in the market, and after an approach for Alexander Isak was knocked back by Newcastle United, the Reds appear to have landed on Hugo Ekitike.

Talks between Liverpool and Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly accelerated throughout the week as Ekitike edged closer to Anfield.

Lionel Messi gave Hugo Ekitike three-word nickname ahead of Liverpool transfer	Thierry Henry’s private Hugo Ekitike verdict after being compared to Liverpool target	Thierry Henry verdict speaks volumes as Hugo Ekitike answers Liverpool question

Although Saturday brought a fresh update that a deal being agreed for Ekitike is not close, the direction of travel is that he will hopefully soon be a Liverpool player.

As the football world prepare for that eventuality, plenty have been giving their opinions on the Frenchman.

The former centre-back is one of the best pundits around.

And that was in evidence in April, when Carragher predicted his old team to make a move for Ekitike after seeing him in action for Eintracht.

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“There’s the lad at Eintracht Frankfurt who scored against Tottenham in the week, and I’m not going to try and pronounce his name!” he laughed while speaking on the ‘It’s Called Soccer!’ podcast.

READ MORE: What Luis Enrique really thought of Hugo Ekitike before selling him at PSG as Liverpool close in

“Ekitike, that smacks to me as the type of player Liverpool would sign.

I think he’s 22, he’s at a club who you’d think would probably be a selling club, he’s done really well there.”

“He went to PSG as a very young boy after sort of lighting up the French league as a young kid, and it didn’t quite work out for him,” Carragher added.

“But he’s still really young, he’s got great numbers this season and it almost looks to me as the type of player Liverpool would sign rather than maybe going for an Isak.”

Although Carragher may ultimately be proven right on his initial view on Ekitike from three months ago, he was wrong on the reasons why Liverpool have pushed ahead to sign him.

Before he spoke about the Eintracht striker, the Liverpool legend suggested the Reds may pick him as first choice after deciding they did not want to spend on Isak.

“Every club would love Isak,” he said.

I’m not sure Liverpool would want to pay that type of money for one player, I don’t think it’s really in the model.

And while Ekitike now looks like the most likely player Liverpool will sign, they would clearly love to throw the kitchen sink at Isak if there was a chance to get him.
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