‘Hugo Ekitike makes brutal decision in Liverpool vs Newcastle transfer battle’
Hugo Ekitike has been the subject of one of the summer’s fastest-moving transfer sagas and now things appear to have taken a drastic turn.
The France youth international has put his PSG struggles behind him since joining Eintracht Frankfurt in the January 2024 transfer window.
Ekitike has registered 26 goals and 14 assists in 64 appearances across all competitions, including 15 goals and eight assists in 33 Bundesliga outings last season to help Die Adler qualify for the Champions League.
Naturally, the striker’s form has triggered heavy links to other big European clubs, with Liverpool and Newcastle United most prominently mentioned.
Hugo Ekitike makes decision between Liverpool and Newcastle
Ekitike has been a big target of Newcastle for some time now, with the Magpies making numerous previous approaches.
And it looked like Eddie Howe would finally get his man this summer, with speculation gathering pace that Newcastle were working hard to bring Ekitike in to partner Alexander Isak.
However, those dreams now appear to be in tatters.
Liverpool‘s interest in Ekitike has steadily grown and now, according to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg (17 July), the 23-year-old is on the verge of moving to Anfield.
The Reds are understood to have offered better personal terms to Ekitike than Newcastle, whose move for the goalscorer can effectively be considered dead in the water.
Plettenberg states that personal terms are “almost agreed” and that ongoing negotiations between Liverpool and Frankfurt ‘could move quickly’.
Liverpool’s Ekitike signing could do Newcastle a favour
Football Insider verdict
There is a great deal of understandable sensitivity around Liverpool at the moment following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
But even before that dreadful event, it was clear Liverpool needed to address their striker situation, lest they overrely on an ageing Mohamed Salah for goals.
Newcastle star Isak has been regularly linked with Liverpool in recent months, and for good reason, with the Sweden international netting 44 goals across the last two Premier League seasons combined.
Had Newcastle beaten Liverpool to the signing of Ekitike, the Reds may well have come in for another attempt at signing Isak.
And with Ekitike already through the door, the temptation to cash in would have been higher, not to mention Isak himself would likely be bolder in pushing a move with the Magpies already having a replacement.
But Liverpool’s appetite at No.9 should now be satiated, meaning Newcastle can focus on building a team around star man Isak ahead of another Champions League campaign.