Liverpool have submitted an improved offer for French forward Hugo Ekitike, talkSPORT understands.

Talks remain ongoing between the Premier League champions and Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal which is estimated to be around €90million (£78m), including add-ons.

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Frankfurt have a healthy Newcastle offer for Ekitike and now Liverpool are getting involvedCredit: Getty

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and Frankfurt counterpart Markus Krosche hope to wrap up the deal this weekend or early next week, with all parties confident an agreement can be struck.

Liverpool submit improved offer for Hugo Ekitike	Liverpool set to submit improved bid for Hugo Ekitike	Liverpool submit improved bid for Hugo Ekitike – £78m deal expected

News of Liverpool's latest bid will come as a blow to Newcastle, who had a £65m offer rejected for the 23-year-old.

At the time of Newcastle's offer, talkSPORT understood Frankfurt executives were reluctant to budge from their €100m (£87m) valuation for the forward who, up until last season, had failed to live up to high expectations.

Blasting onto the scene with boyhood club Reims in 2021, Ekitike was pencilled in as a future France star but didn’t live up to the hype with a failed move to Paris Saint-Germain coming with very little game time.

But after a season in which he netted 22 times in all competitions for Frankfurt, Liverpool and Newcastle had evidently taken a keen interest in Ekitike.

The Reds are on the lookout for a new striker with Darwin Nunez on the market and valued at £59m.

As a prelude to their Ekitike interest, Liverpool have indicated to Newcastle that they would be willing to pay a British record £120m for star striker Alexander Isak.

The Magpies, though, value the player at £150m.

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Yet as it stands, both Isak and Ekitike are being valued by their current employers well above what Liverpool are willing to pay.

Explaining the Ekiteke situation in more detail, talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs said: “At the moment he’s €100m and Frankfurt are sticking to that price.

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The former PSG man is good, but he's not €100m good according to Liverpool and NewcastleCredit: Getty

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Ekitike is finally living up to his huge potential from his Reims days, but has just one season to show for itCredit: Getty

“I think Chelsea realise if they just wait a little bit until later in the summer that price may drop.

“I think we’re hearing a lot of noise out of Germany to create a bidding war.

"It wouldn’t surprise me if Liverpool don’t get Isak and eventually give up that they move on and that Ekitike is high in their thinking.

“Later in the window that price might drop from €100m to somewhere close to €85m which is when the likes of maybe Chelsea and Liverpool might finally make their move.”

Such a move for either striker would continue what’s already been a blockbuster summer for Liverpool who have spent close to £200m after their league title win last season.

Arne Slot’s side responded to the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid by bringing in a new right back in Jeremie Frimpong, and they then added his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz for a British record £116m.

Milos Kerkez was next through the door for £40m, and talkSPORT understands the club are interested in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi after selling academy product Jarell Quansah to Leverkusen.

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Liverpool have already had a remarkable summer window without even signing a striker
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