Liverpool are facing one key issue in talks with Hugo Ekitike, it could scupper £85m transfer

TBR Football can exclusively reveal that Liverpool have held talks with Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike but face a key issue in his pursuit.

The 22-year-old is a striker in high demand this summer with several Premier League clubs looking to sign him.

TBR Football revealed in April that Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool scouts watched Ekitike.

Liverpool are considered the frontrunners to sign Ekitike, however, the deal is not easy as they face a significant issue in their pursuit.

Photo by Sebastian El-Saqqa – firo sportphoto/Getty Images

Liverpool face key issue in bid to sign Hugo Ekitike

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that the Premier League champions have held talks with Ekitike this month over a potential summer move.

The Reds are not the only club showing interest, with Manchester United, Newcastle, Arsenal and Chelsea also holding talks.

The Bundesliga striker is held in high regard by Liverpool and while interest in the player is genuine, TBR Football understands that Liverpool, nor any other interested club, value him at €100m (£85m), a fee which would actually make him more expensive than the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and more than three times that of Liam Delap.

TBR Football understands that Ekitike’s entourage are telling his suitors that he can move for less than the €100m (£85m) price tag that Eintracht Frankfurt have placed on him.

Ekitike is understood to be keen on a move to the Premier League. However, a move to England is only said to be possible if his price drops.

Hugo Ekitike compared to Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak is said to be Liverpool’s dream signing to bolster their attack this summer, however, signing him will not be easy given Newcastle’s reluctance to sell him.

But they could potentially sign Ekitike, a player who many believe is developing in a similar trajectory as Isak.

Matt Law in a recent London is Blue Podcast made the claim backing Ekitike to become the next Alexander Isak.

Speaking of Chelsea’s interest in the player, he said: “So Ekitike, they (Chelsea) definitely like. I think there’s a lot of people in football who are hopeful and thinking that Ekitike might have a similar development path to Isak.

“They see him as a similar type of striker who could be what Isak was when he sort of joined Newcastle or just a little bit before that. They’re talking a lot of money, though, for him. I mean, I saw Ekitike a couple of times against Tottenham in the Europa League this season.”

Isak last season scored 27 goals and assisted six in 42 games across all competitions, while Ekitike scored 22 and assisted 12 in 48 games across all competitions.

Player Age Club Games Goals Assists Alexander Isak 22 Real Sociedad 41 10 3 Hugo Ekitike 22 Frankfurt 48 22 12 Stats comparing Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike at age 22

While Isak has made huge strides over the past couple of seasons, at age 22, he was playing in La Liga for Real Sociedad and not producing as good numbers (10 goals and three assists in 41 games across all competitions) as the Frenchman has produced at the same age in the Bundesliga.

If the young French star continues developing at this rate, there’s no reason he can’t reach Isak’s level.

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