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Indeed, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo did a more than solid job at filling in as Arne Slot’s number nine last season, but in reality, they’d be far better off with a natural striker leading their attack.

There’s also no hiding from the fact that Liverpool will be expected to come away with the Premier League title once again in the 2025-26 campaign.

Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

So, for them to do this, a consistent number nine will be key, and while many players have been linked, it looks like the Reds are set to zone in on one particular target.

One of the main things that seems to be holding up a deal for Hugo Ekitike this summer is his price tag.

“Eintracht Frankfurt would like to keep Hugo Ekitike, also to be well prepared for the Champions League,” Plettenberg wrote via his personal X account.

Liverpool remain a concrete option.

His price tag is €100m.

“How will the poker end?”

Although Ekitike is likely to take every last piece of money that Liverpool have in their war chest, there’s no denying that he’s an exceptional talent.

Of course, only time will tell whether Liverpool will be able to scrape the money together for a move, but if they can, Anfield will likely become even more of a fortress than it already is.