Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this Sunday.

The Reds have reportedly agreed a fee with Eintracht having moved quickly to accelerate talks during the week.

Ekitike‘s arrival is likely to signal the end of Darwin Nunez’s time at Liverpool, as the Reds begin to build a new-look forward line.

But while Ekitike joining the Liverpool squad is certainly exciting, his transfer has been somewhat overshadowed by what’s currently unfolding with Alexander Isak and Newcastle United.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai will be the real winner if Liverpool manage to sign Hugo Ekitike - opinion	Why Ekitike is the 'next' Isak! The SCARY similarities between the two strikers	Hugo Ekitike arrival could spell two Liverpool exits worth $74 million

Isak missed Newcastle’s game against Celtic on Saturday, leading to speculation that Liverpool could yet test the Magpies’ resolve over their star striker.

And, although it seems unlikely, it cannot be ruled out that Arne Slot begins next season with both Ekitike and Isak in his team.

With that mouth-watering prospect in mind, indulge us as we run the rule over exactly what that might look like.

Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

One of Liverpool’s best performances of the 2024/25 season came away at Manchester City, when Slot chose to use Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones as makeshift number nines.

This worked an absolute treat, and although Ekitike and Isak would play these roles differently, perhaps this is something the Liverpool head coach has in mind.

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There are plenty of similarities between Ekitike and Isak, which may suggest that they could not play awfully well together.

However, sticking them both through the middle with Mohamed Salah on one side and Florian Wirtz on the other would surely bring goals galore.

Liverpool Predicted Line-up with Alexander Isak 1

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The main issue with this line-up is that Wirtz seems unlikely to have been brought in to play as a left winger.

Nevertheless, with Milos Kerkez rampaging up the line from left-back, the German would not have to stay fixed to the left side.

Ekitike could pull wider, leaving Wirtz space to roam around behind Isak and Salah.

The big Swede would likely be Liverpool’s focal point whatever the players around him, but Wirtz playing more centrally alongside him leads us to option number two.

While the whole idea of Liverpool’s new attack appears to be for creative freedom to be given to those involved in it, there may be some worth in leaving this largely to Wirtz.

The 22-year-old is a creative master, and to what extent Liverpool maximise his skills is likely to correlate directly with how successful they are next season.

Giving Wirtz a free role may work with him drifting in from the wing, but starting him centrally feels like a potentially better idea.

Liverpool Predicted Line-up with Alexander Isak 2

That would mean Salah, as ever, retains his position to the right, while Wirtz operates behind – or often alongside – Isak.

The crux of this potential formation is whether Ekitike is able, or willing, to play from the left for the majority of his minutes.

Given the fee Liverpool are paying for Ekitike, it seems probable that they have already told him their plans for his position.

If that is to be on the left and he is happy with that, then Liverpool and Isak could yet be in business.

With Slot having the luxury of having players like Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong battling for places as well, these two line-ups look very different, but both equally enticing.
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