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

Liverpool have been handed a transfer boost after Eintracht Frankfurt identified a possible replacement for Hugo Ekitike.

The Reds have already spent big since the summer window opened and there is no suggestion they are about to stop with stronger links to strikers emerging this week.

One such player mentioned has been Ekitike, Frankfurt's 22-goal forward last season.



The latest claim from The Athletic is Liverpool establishing first contact with the Bundesliga club as a follow-up to Newcastle United seeing an opening £70m offer rejected for a player who possesses an £86m release clause.

Creating a further complicated scenario involving the Magpies is the Reds' long-standing interest in their leading man, Alexander Isak, as reported by the ECHO.

At the moment there is no clear path set out for how this will evolve.

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If the saga plays out the way of Ekitike being the most likely candidate to move to Anfield then Liverpool can be buoyed by the fact Frankfurt reportedly have lined up their replacement.

German publication BILD outlines how Franjo Ivanovic, 21, is a 'hot' choice to join the Eagles using a portion of the money they would recoup from selling their current striker.

There is no suggestion any advances have been made towards his signing.

Last season Ivanovic scored 24 times in 56 appearances for Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise.

Frankfurt's apparent identification of a replacement for Ekitke could allow Liverpool to capture their star man in a summer transfer.

But it also leaves the door open for Newcastle, who are actively negotiating with the German club to try and bring the 23-year-old to the Premier League.

Chiefs at St.

James' Park are set to have their mettle tested throughout this transfer saga, as they try to beat the reigning Premier League champions to a top striker signing whilst trying to hold onto their own prized asset.

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The growing feeling is Isak could be tempted by a new challenge at Anfield with reports suggesting the 25-year-old's representative has already entertained contract renewal talks with manager Eddie Howe earlier this month.
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