Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool transfer timeline emerges as one hurdle remains

Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool transfer timeline emerges as one hurdle remains

Latest Liverpool transfer news as a timeline emerges for Hugo Ekitike to sign for the club this summer

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike has been linked with a transfer to the Premier League (Image: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images )

A hint has been made towards when exactly Liverpool could look to spring a bid to sign Hugo Ekitike ahead of their rivals. Despite struggling after a previous breakout transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, the striker has rediscovered his form with Eintracht Frankfurt and now once again has a collection of high-profile suitors.

Arriving in Germany in January 2024 on an initial loan Ekitike did enough to earn a permanent €16.5m (£14m) move, then in the 2024/25 campaign he burst into life with 22 strikes in all competitions. This has allegedly instilled confidence in Europe's finest, Liverpool included, that even though he floundered at PSG, at still just 23 he still holds the workings of a future goalscoring great inside.

Tied to the Reds' summer transfer window has been the idea that changes will be made up front, now a picture has been painted for when this is likeliest to happen.

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Head of football at BILD, Christian Falk, speaking to CaughtOffside has followed the saga closely. He explains how Liverpool's interest in the player is well-established, though there is work to be done before a move can be made.

That would refer to the sale of Darwin Nunez, which he says must go through before Arne Slot and Co. are willing to act on their interest in any strikers that have caught their attention.

This falls in line with what the ECHO previously reported, that Liverpool's priority now that they have landed key targets Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez will be to trim their squad with outgoings the order of the day.

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In spite of increasing chatter over a switch to Serie A champions Napoli, the Reds have received no concrete offers for Nunez as things stand. That could quickly change heading into the second month of the window.

So based on this it would be a waiting game before any move for Ekitike is made.

Meanwhile rivals Chelsea and Manchester United are also named suitors for the French Under-21 international. The latter are said to be the only club to have made initial contact with Frankfurt at this stage but the the process has not reached negotiations, let alone the bidding stage.

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Frankfurt have slapped a €100m (£85m) price tag on their star, who has a contract lasting until 2029. They are under no pressure to sell but if they do decide to cash in, there could be room to negotiate that fee down.

The £85m would equal the then-club-record fee paid for Nunez back in 2022 and would be another major commitment so soon after the club broke the British transfer record to bring Wirtz to the Premier League for £116m.

Despite this and their spend now in excess of £200m for this summer, Liverpool have positioned themselves perfectly financially and have the funds available to complete another transfer of this magnitude without any concerns about Profit and Sustainability Rules.

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