Liverpool sent blunt admission over Hugo Ekitike after £79m transfer – 'Quality drops'

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Liverpool brought in Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer transfer window and the French striker has six goals in his first 14 appearances for Arne Slot's sideLiverpool have been delighted by the impact Hugo Ekitike has made since joining the club in the summer, but the deal has had a knock-on effect elsewhere. While Ekitike was sold to Liverpool in the summer, Marmoush joined Manchester City for £59m in January.READ MORE: Liverpool handed Marc Guehi transfer boost as rivals 'walk away for two reasons'READ MORE: Joey Barton 'left Jeremy Vine fearing for his safety' after vile social media postsThe deals represented good business for Frankfurt, but sporting director Timmo Hardung has admitted that their exits, like that of Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, has depleted their ranks.“It’s clear that when you say goodbye to players like Kolo Muani or Ekitike, your quality drops,” Hardung told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“And you can’t keep them, there’s little to discuss, as ambitious as we remain in our project.”Frankfurt know their place in the food chain and therefore aim to unearth the next top talent to fill the gap. There’s a thin thread that links player trading and scouting.“If you manage to maintain a balance and overcome the obvious difficulties at the beginning of each cycle, you can then replicate the results on the pitch.”Frankfurt are currently eighth in the Bundesliga, while they have managed just one win from their four Champions League games so far.

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