Liverpool agrees to Hugo Ekitike transfer terms as Alexander Isak future clear

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Liverpool has reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, making the Frenchman the club's latest acquisition in a bustling summer.

According to Mirror Football, Ekitike has given the green light to a move to Anfield and will ink a six-year deal, with the Reds outmanoeuvring Newcastle's bid for the 23-year-old while also expressing interest in Magpies star Alexander Isak. The latter is now unlikely to join Arne Slot's roster.

The addition of Ekitike will push Liverpool's expenditure over $300 million since its Premier League title victory, but despite his £86.5 million ($115.9 million) release clause, Liverpool is hopeful of negotiating a lower price.

The pursuit of Ekitike follows Newcastle's audacious attempt to sign the forward, who netted 22 goals last season and has previously turned down the Magpies.

Newcastle was keen to publicize its intention to pair Ekitike with current No. 9 Isak.

But Liverpool effectively called Newcastle's bluff by showing interest in the Swede as well as proceeding with plans to sign Ekitike.

(Image: Getty Images)

The Reds suggested they would be open to a deal around £120 million ($160.7 million) for Isak, while simultaneously, Newcastle's £70 million ($93.8 million) offer for Ekitike was rebuffed by Frankfurt.

Buoyed by the knowledge that Ekitike is keen to join the club, and eager to avoid a drawn-out transfer saga over Isak, Liverpool will now aim to finalize a deal for Ekitike before it embarks on its pre-season tour of Asia next week.

Manchester United is also reportedly keen on Ekitike, who, despite not yet earning a senior cap for France, has netted five goals in five appearances for the country's U21s.

His signing would effectively mark the end of Darwin Nunez's stint at Liverpool after three seasons, even though a move to Napoli fell through earlier this week.

Nunez is still on the radar of clubs in Italy and Saudi Arabia.

Ekitike's arrival would be Liverpool's third acquisition from the Bundesliga this season, following the signings of Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.

Left-back Milos Kerkez has also joined from Bournemouth, while goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made the switch from Valencia in a deal that was initially agreed last summer.

Liverpool's next preseason game is against AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday, July 26.

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