Hugo Ekitike has 'decided' which club he would prefer to sign for as Newcastle and Liverpool prepare monster bids for Frankfurt striker
Hugo Ekitike has reportedly made a decision over who he would prefer to join out of Liverpool and Newcastle this summer as both clubs continue to battle for one of Europe's most sought-after strikers.
He is arguably the most wanted forward in world football right now.
Ekitike, 23, is being chased by several clubs around Europe after the former Paris Saint-Germain striker helped Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt secure Champions League qualification with 22 goals and 13 assists across 2024/25.
Manchester United entered the race to sign Ekitike in May and are still monitoring the situation closely, according to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg.
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Liverpool, meanwhile, have reached out to Eintracht Frankfurt in the past 48 hours to once again register their interest. Alexander Isak appears to be their number one target but if they fail to sign the Swede, Ekitike is said to be next in line.
Newcastle, on the other hand, are determined to keep Isak and sign Ekitike. In fact, earlier this week, Frankfurt turned down a club-record £70 million bid from the Magpies for Ekitike as they value him at £85 million.
Amid the ongoing transfer war, journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft has revealed that Ekitike 'prefers' a move to Liverpool this summer.
Speaking to ESPN FC's YouTube channel, Fjortoft opened up on the saga.
“What I do hear is that Ekitike is not for sale, but we know the strategy of Eintracht Frankfurt," he began. “They signed Muani to PSG for €95+5 million, they sold Marmoush to Manchester City for €80 million. His (Ekitike’s) price tag now is €100 million.
"He is being the joker in the Liverpool-Newcastle thing. If Liverpool can’t get Isak, maybe they will go for Ekitike.
"What I do understand is that the player prefers to play for Liverpool. But, he is very relaxed because he knows he can play in the Champions League with Eintracht Frankfurt, and Eintracht Frankfurt, for the first time in a long, long time, they don’t have to sell because they have already done that with Champions League qualification and the sales of Marmoush and Muani."
Fjortoft added: “But I can tell you, Ekitike prefers Liverpool Football Club.”
The latest update on Hugo Ekitike as Liverpool make stance clear
Liverpool are ready to go all out for Ekitike and beat Newcastle to the punch.
The Reds have yet to make a formal bid, but Sky's Florian Plettenberg posted an interesting update on Wednesday night, suggesting that Liverpool are willing to pay more than what Newcastle have offered for Ekitike.
Fabrizio Romano also delivered an update on Thursday morning suggesting that Liverpool are 'advancing today' in club-to-club talks with Eintracht for Ekitike.
He added: "While Isak deal depends on final decision by Newcastle as they insist on not-for-sale stance, Liverpool also progressing on both club and player side for Ekitike."
Topics: Liverpool, Newcastle United, Premier League, Champions League, Transfer News
Jack Kenmare