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Ahead of a reported £69 million (€80 million) transfer deal for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool, details have emerged of a video call between the club's new manager Arne Slot and the French forward. Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp before the 2024/25 season, outlined a clear tactical vision for Liverpool’s future that played a significant role in convincing Ekitike to choose the Reds over other interested Premier League giants such as Manchester United, Newcastle, and Chelsea.

The deal is expected to include £10 million (€12.5 million) in add-ons, with Ekitike set to undergo a medical and sign a six-year contract. Following this, he will join Liverpool on their pre-season tour in Hong Kong. Slot’s promises reportedly involved presenting Ekitike with an attacking system evolution, specifically a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Ekitike would feature prominently as the central striker, aligning with Liverpool’s new strategic direction under Slot's management.

This transfer marks Liverpool’s second significant investment in Bundesliga talent over the summer, following the record-breaking £116 million signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. With Darwin Nunez potentially moving on, Ekitike is seen as a crucial fresh option for Liverpool's forward line, complementing existing talents like Luis Diaz, who is also attracting external interest.

In summary, Arne Slot’s personal engagement and vision for Ekitike’s role, combined with Liverpool’s ambition to rebuild under new leadership, were key factors in sealing this major signing. The move is viewed as a vital coup in Slot’s second summer transfer window as Liverpool aim to re-establish themselves at the top of English and European football.

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