Liverpool agree £79m deal for striker Hugo Ekitike
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Liverpool are on the verge of signing Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. A £79m deal has been hashed out for the former Paris Saint-Germain striker, who is on Merseyside to complete a medical. The Reds have beaten off interest from Newcastle to secure his signature after the Magpies held firm over Alexander Isak
He will be tasked with leading the line for Liverpool next season as they go in search of back-to-back Premier League titles. Newcastle were initially keen on bringing Ekitike to St James' Park before the Merseyside giants swooped in.
The interest is warranted. Díaz scored 17 goals last season and was instrumental in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign. But despite thriving under Arne Slot’s new era, it seems his ambitions lie elsewhere.
Real Madrid may regularly sign superstars but, in 2020, they missed out on three world-class players, including Arsenal and Liverpool stars. The Spanish giants have already been busy in this summer's transfer window, with Trent Alexander-Arnold their most high-profile addition.
One of the most prominent examples of Fenway Sports Group's self-sustaining model occurred in 2018, when the £146m sale of the Merseysiders' standout player, Philippe Coutinho, funded the transfers of now-captain Virgil van Dijk and shot-stopper Alisson Becker.
Roma are also mentioned as a possible destination. Gian Piero Gasperini, the club’s new manager, has been vocal in his desire for reinforcements. So far, Evan Ferguson has arrived to lead the line, while Neil El Aynaoui and Wesley have bolstered the flanks.
Liverpool and Chelsea are carrying the brunt of the load, with the Blues the league’s highest spenders before an agreement is struck for Ekitiké. The world champions, according to Transfermarkt, have splashed out £211 million ($283 million) and have been heavily reimbursed via their work in the United States this summer.
The former Blackpool midfielder is set to replace Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who left Liverpool after 10 years of service at the end of last sea