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Liverpool have been linked with Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt(Image: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Liverpool-linked striker Hugo Ekitike has been described as one of the best strikers on the market as the Reds reportedly face competition from Chelsea.

The France under-21 international Ekitike has been mooted as a potential attacking option for Liverpool with Darwin Nunez's future uncertain on Merseyside.

The Uruguayan has failed to live up to the expectations set after joining the Reds in a deal worth £85million in 2022 and this season could be his last following interest from Saudi Arabia, as well as reports from Spain suggest Atletico Madrid have him on their radar.



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German club Frankfurt have slapped a €100million (around £84m) price-tag on the former Paris Saint-Germain forward Ekitike, who netted 15 goals in 33 Bundesliga outings in the most recent term.

BILD's Frankfurt reporter Johannes Wolf believes that the fee isn't unreasonable and claimed that Ekitike is one of the best strikers currently on the market, behind another Liverpool-linked talisman, Alexander Isak.

"It’s a big fee but it’s how Frankfurt work and they establish their fees early on," he told the ECHO.

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"They did it with the Kolo-Muani transfer and no one expected them to go so hard on PSG until the last second, I think that helps them now.

"The understanding within the business is Ekitike is a better striker than Kolo-Muani was and if he got you €95million, they’re trying to get the €100m.

"If they do?

Marmoush went to €82million to Manchester City, when he was 22 - like Ekitike is now - he was playing in the second division in Germany.

"Now, Ekitike has great numbers with Frankfurt in almost every competition.

It’s a high fee but it’s not completely unreasonable especially when you look at the potential, especially with what’s available.

"If you ask me, he’s the biggest prize after Isak on the market this year, I see him as better than [Benjamin] Sesko, some people have question marks over [Viktor] Gyokeres, so I can see why Frankfurt ask for a fee of €100m."

Chelsea are reportedly looking to continue their free-spending in the market and add to their summer shopping spree with Liam Delap set to join the club from relegated side Ipswich Town.

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Enzo Maresca guided the Londoners back into the Champions League, with their win on the final day over Nottingham Forest securing their place in the top four, as well as adding the UEFA Conference League.

But it's at Anfield where Wolf believes the 22-year-old can really make his mark.

He said: "Everything we hear from here, it can change minute-by-minute, but in the last day it looks like Chelsea are in pole for Ekitike, that’s what we’re hearing from our sources.

"He is going to be their big fish in this market, I’m very curious to see what Liverpool do because their main target is [Florian] Wirtz but they are not out of it, it’s very interesting.

"If you asked me, I’d prefer to see him at Liverpool because he has to adapt to the playing style and learn a little bit more responsibilities against the ball and in that environment, he would thrive."

The BILD football writer added: "He’s a great all-round player, he can play in almost every system.

"He can play as a lone striker, he can play with another number nine - like he showed with Omar Marmoush - he even played better when you have a great player around him.

"But he can adapt to almost every system, he can play as a central nine - that’s very important, of course his great individual qualities that you don’t always see in the biggest leagues.

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"He has that magical touch, how he handles the ball, he’s has great one-on-one dribbling skills and even his shot has got better.

"He still has some flaws, he still has to develop but he’s 22, how big of the steps he took in the last year-and-a-half, you can imagine where he will be in the next year and that’s why he has such a big standing already."


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