
Following the addition of big-money signing Florian Wirtz this summer, Liverpool look to be not just the favorite to repeat as Premier League champions, but also a contender for the UEFA Champions League title.
Yet clearly, the Reds aren’t done adding to the squad before the 2025/26 season begins.
Multiple reports indicate they are in the market for a world-class striker for the coming season. With the struggles of Darwin Nunez, external interest in Luis Diaz, and the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward line is in flux.
The Sporting News details the player who Liverpool seem set on, as a move for Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt seems to be gaining significant steam as mid-July rolls along.
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Is Hugo Ekitike worth the money?
According to concurrent reports by ESPN and The Athletic, Liverpool are “advancing” in a deal to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike this summer. The German club is asking for close to the value of his release clause, which is set at €100 million (£86.5m/$115.9m).
The reports state that Eintracht Frankfurt rejected a bid from Newcastle United for Ekitike of around £65m ($87m / €75.2m), which has priced out the Magpies, who had already made it clear to Liverpool that they did not wish to sell Alexander Isak.
The Athletic reports that personal terms “are not expected to be an issue” as Ekitike is thought to be keen on the move, certainly over a possible Newcastle switch.
Should Liverpool agree a deal in the region of €80m-€90m, it would make Ekitike their second or third most expensive signing, behind Florian Wirtz and roughly around the fee they paid for Darwin Nunez. Such a sum would certainly represent a gamble, particularly given Nunez’s mixed fortunes at Anfield, but it’s a much lower fee than Isak would have commanded.
Hugo Ekitike stats, numbers at Eintracht Frankfurt, PSG
Ekitike began his career at French club Reims, making his professional debut in October of 2020 but not truly breaking through until the following season.
He earned a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2022, hoping to help the club transition from their star-studded approach to a bigger focus on squad building, but he failed to make an impact. PSG hit the eject button on Ekitike quickly, loaning him to Eintracht Frankfurt after just one season before the move was made permanent in 2024 for less than the French giants paid to acquire him.
One club’s trash is another’s treasure, and Ekitike has blossomed at Frankfurt this past campaign, smashing in 22 goals and assisting double-digits as well, seeing them reach the Europa League quarterfinals where they were beaten by Tottenham.
Season | Club | Games | Goals / Assists | Minutes |
2024/25 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 48 | 22 / 12 | 3,644 |
2023/24 | PSG / Eintracht Frankfurt | 17 | 4 / 2 | 780 |
2022/23 | PSG | 32 | 4 / 4 | 1,396 |
2021/22 | Stade Reims | 26 | 11 / 4 | 1,373 |
How good is Hugo Ekitike?
According to reports, including by The Guardian, Ekitike’s release clause stands at €100 million (£86.5m/$115.9m). Given that Frankfurt are willing to field discussions about a deal below that value, they clearly understand his market value is not worth nine figures.
So, are Liverpool paying over what he should be worth on the market? The easy answer is ‘yes’ given a player’s value is ultimately determined by whatever a club is willing to pay. If Liverpool agree to pay, say, €80m for Ekitike, then that is what he’s worth!
However, it’s still possible to analyze just how good Ekitike is and whether Liverpool are advisable to pay such a significant sum for the Frankfurt frontman, especially after having shelled out huge money for Wirtz the same summer, along with full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
There are three approaches to this. First, a pure look at Ekitike’s numbers from last season, which absolutely leap off the page from pretty much every angle. Second, however, is an understanding of those numbers in context of Ekitike’s position and career. And finally, third is a review of his tape — aka, “watch the games, nerd.”
We start with his numbers, which are sensational. Beyond just the pure goals and assists, last season, he had a major impact on games in and around the penalty area. According to FBRef, Ekitike ranked in the 94th percentile or higher amongst European forwards in progressive carries (96th), successful take-ons (96th), shot-creating actions (94th), and penalty area touches (94th), while ranking in the 91st percentile for progressive passes received. This indicates he’s both getting on the end of attacking moves and creating opportunities for his teammates.
However, these must be taken into context. Ekitike has played his entire career so far for clubs in France and Germany, both which sport leagues that have a top-heavy competitive environment and thus are far less transferrable to the Premier League than others such as Spain or Italy. Additionally, Ekitike has just one season of truly productive football, as his one year with PSG was extremely poor and he was stuck behind Omar Marmoush and Randal Kolo Muani his first season at Frankfurt.
Thus, Liverpool are banking massively on one great season, with little to back it up. Essentially, Liverpool believe that having just turned 23, Ekitike is on an upward trajectory as a developing player, and not a one-hit wonder.
That faith is justified by watching Ekitike play, as he jumps off the television as not just a solid finisher but also an effective dribbler. His long-legged running style allows Ekitike to get past defenders in unorthodox manners, with one analysis video describing him as having a “Victor Wembanyama vibe.”
What is Hugo Ekitike’s best position?
Given that Ekitike has such a versatile skill set, there are questions about his best position on the pitch. Many clubs nowadays see debates about a player’s best position as a positive, especially for attackers, as versatility up front is considered a valuable characteristic.
Looking at Ekitike’s FBRef comparisons, it’s easy to see why this debate comes up. He is statistically comparable to the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Marmoush, both players who have been moved around the front line in fluid roles at their clubs. Marmoush, of course, who was a teammate of Ekitike’s at Frankfurt before moving to Manchester City.
Ultimately, though, Ekitike is most effective playing up front as a No. 9, especially in a fluid attacking system like Liverpool’s where Cody Gakpo and Diaz often thrived as a striker with freedom to drift.
