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Liverpool are on the verge of completing the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, marking their seventh major signing of the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old French striker has turned down proposals from both Manchester United and Newcastle United to join the reigning Premier League champions on a six-year contract. Liverpool had been tracking new centre-forward options for over a year, initially targeting Alexander Isak, but moved focus to Ekitike due to Newcastle's reluctance to sell Isak and the exorbitant fee exceeding £120 million required for him[1][3][4].

The transfer negotiations accelerated after Ekitike expressed a strong desire to join Liverpool, reportedly influenced by phone calls from the club and the allure of Anfield's anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone." Klopp's recruitment strategy prioritizes young, technically gifted players with Champions League potential, and Ekitike fits this profile perfectly after rebuilding his reputation in the Bundesliga following a challenging period at Paris Saint-Germain. His impressive performances for Frankfurt in both the Bundesliga and Europa League have attracted the attention of Liverpool's management team led by Arne Slot and Richard Hughes[1][3].

The deal is nearing completion, with Liverpool having made a second, improved bid that is close to Ekitike's €100 million (£86.7 million) release clause at Frankfurt. Sources at Eintracht Frankfurt expect the final fee to approach this figure, making it potentially a club-record sale. The formal agreement is expected imminently, potentially before Liverpool's preseason tour of Asia begins, as work continues to finalize terms including add-ons. Once completed, the transfer will see Liverpool's summer spending exceed £250 million, following earlier signings such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez[2][1].

This move also aligns with Liverpool's apparent plan to offload Darwin Núñez, who is likely to depart this summer, potentially to a Saudi club, as his European options have narrowed. Ekitike's arrival aims to strengthen Liverpool's attacking options significantly while fitting the club’s long-term sporting project[4].

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