Who is Hugo Ekitike? Liverpool 'target', failed Newcastle transfer and Eintracht Frankfurt curse
The latest Liverpool transfer news as French reports emerging link Arne Slot with interest in Hugo Ekitike
Even though Liverpool's firepower has been strong during Arne Slot's first season in charge, there are rumblings of big changes coming in the summer. Slot has not fully made his imprint on the squad; now he is being rumoured with interest in Eintracht Frankfurt goalscorer Hugo Ekitike.
Mohamed Salah has shouldered the brunt of the weight for Liverpool in front of goal this term, though with his contract currently expiring, that makes the situation dangerous for the long-term. Cody Gakpo has been dependable, whereas Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have suffered poor form and Diogo Jota has been injured. Slot's only recruit last summer, Federico Chiesa, has played a bit-part role getting up to speed.
So in recent weeks, the addition of a striker has been added to the transfer discussion surrounding Anfield alongside numerous other positions that seemingly require attention. Ekitike, in fine form this season in Germany, has therefore become a 'target', with the ECHO summarising this latest rumour with key information from the 22-year-old's bright career.
Transfer latest
On Monday, RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins claimed three Premier League clubs are interested in Ekitike and his future during the upcoming summer transfer window would be 'one to watch'. The clubs went unnamed.
Fast-forward to Tuesday and that claim has been followed by a report from Foot Mercato, who believe they know the identity of the clubs. They name Arsenal, West Ham and the Reds.
Failed Newcastle move
In a very different reality, Liverpool could have been lining up against the forward they are now linked with in next month's Carabao Cup final.
As reported by Chronicle Live understand, Newcastle United had a £25m offer accepted in summer 2022 by Ekitike's employers at the time, SC Reims. However, they could not agree with the player's agent and later that summer he ended up transferring to Paris Saint-Germain instead. Eddie Howe said 'no hard feelings' and 'really did wish him luck' for the next step.
Over the following one-and-a-half seasons, he would only go on to make 33 appearances in total for France's top club, scoring four times. Minutes were severely limited with Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr as competition, so in the end, a loan turned into a permanent £13.2m switch to Eintracht Frankfurt was his only option.
"At the time, I didn't see things like that because I wanted to play," he told TNT Sports in reflection. "But it's only now, after spending a lot of time at home reflecting on what happened, that I've realised that I've been lucky enough to be in a place where no one else has been.
"I'm always on a quest to learn. I have a thirst for learning. I realised that at the end of the day, I'd maybe spent a year, a year-and-a-half watching the best players in the world go through their paces in training and even in matches. Sometimes up close, sometimes a little further away."
Frankfurt curse
With 17 goals and six assists in Germany this campaign, it comes as no surprise that the 22-year-old finds himself linked with a big-money move to the Premier League. The Reds are scrupulous in their data-driven scouting; however, superstition may actually warn them off this deal.
Supporters have coined the term 'the Frankfurt curse', relating to the sale of a striker who has experienced blistering form at Deutsche Bank Park and gone on to falter at their next club under the weight of a huge fee.
The first was Luka Jovic, moving to Real Madrid for £52m after a 17-goal season in 2018/19. His time in the Spanish capital resulted in three goals in 51 appearances; now he has made only five appearances for AC Milan this season.
His partner, Sebastien Haller, also gained recognition with 20 goals and 12 assists in the same season, so he was signed by West Ham for £45m. In the following two years 14 goals saw him sold to Ajax, though credit where it is due the Ivorian got back to goalscoring form in the Netherlands then won the Africa Cup of Nations after recovering from testicular cancer.
Andre Silva followed, netting 45 times with 15 assists and earning a £19m cross-country move to RB Leipzig. Four years later, he has scored 18 fewer goals and has been loaned out twice.
And lastly, Randal Kolo Muani, whose £78.7m transfer to PSG ended in disaster. They signed a striker who was capable of 29 goal contributions in his first Bundesliga campaign - he would go on to register 17 in 18 months, deemed not enough by the French giants.
So, this recent lineage of strikers hailing from Frankfurt have provided grounds for a new superstition to bloom.
Contract status
When he departed PSG permanently last summer, Ekitike and his agents agreed a five-year contract with Frankfurt until 2029.
According to Capology, he earns a base weekly salary of £55k and there is believed to be no release clause included in his deal, meaning any offer Liverpool could make would be agreed upon at the discretion of his employers. Transfermarkt's current value places the 6'2" striker at £33m.