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The Guardian has confirmed the latest news on Hugo Ekitike and Liverpool.

The last couple of hours has been full of transfer stories for Liverpool fans as the club has intensified their search and desire to sign a new striker.

After a brief period of low transfer activity as the club mourned the devastating death of Diogo Jota, Liverpool have resumed preparations for the upcoming season.

It was known from the inception of this summer that the No.

9 position is a position Arne Slot is keen on strengthening.

The Dutchman has identified both Ekitike and Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak as options.

The Swedish international is the Reds’ no.1 target and are the club is ready to break the British record transfer bid for the second time this summer to sign the Newcastle United forward.

However, the Eddie Howe’s side have no intention of selling the Sweden international, who is said to be open to a moving to Anfield.

Reports claim that Liverpool to spend up to £125m in pursuit of Isak.

Should that happen it will take their total spend for the summer to close to £400 million, having already spent over £100 million in the transfer of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.

However, Liverpool are not waiting around for Isak and Newcastle and have begun talks to sign Higo Ekitike.

Incidentally, the Reds are in competition with Newcastle for the France U21 striker.

The Magies are also determined to strengthen their attack and are interested in Ekitike.

Eintracht Frankfurt have already rejected Newcastle’s formal £70m bid for the 23-year-old as they value him at £85m.

According to The Guardian, Liverpool have now fully entered the race for Ekitike, having approached Eintracht Frankfurt for the Frenchman.

“Liverpool have made an approach for Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt as their competition with Newcastle over a new striker intensifies,” the report said.

“Liverpool’s interest in the 23-year-old not only threatens Newcastle’s chances but improves the German club’s negotiating position,” they added.

“The former Reims and Paris Saint-Germain forward is believed to have a release clause of about €100m (£86.6m) and an auction between two Premier League clubs would encourage them to hold out for the asking price.”

The Guardian’s report corroborates with an earlier report by The Athletic and Sky Sports, who reported that Liverpool have opened talks with Frankfurt over the move.

Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 games across all competitions last season for Frankfurt as they secured Champions League qualification.

The French striker joined Frankfurt permanently in a deal worth €17.5m in the summer of 2024, following a loan spell from PSG in the previous campaign.

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