Liverpool’s bold summer season confirmed no indicators of slowing down on Wednesday with the signing of ahead Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, a participant who appears poised to change into an impactful participant at Anfield because the Reds construct a new-look assault.
The Reds may pay a switch payment that exceeds $100 million if all circumstances are met, a large wager on the 23-year-old. Ekitike might have had a low profile earlier than this summer season however not as a result of he lacks the potential to compete on the highest ranges of the sport – he had 24 targets and 14 assists for Frankfurt in 64 video games, demonstrating a robust capability to place his possibilities at the back of the web in addition to a expertise for establishing his teammates to do the identical. He reportedly additionally caught the eye of Chelsea and Manchester United, and most notably, Newcastle United, earlier than touchdown at Liverpool throughout a giant summer season for the membership.
Ekitike shouldn’t be the one participant Liverpool have spent massive on this summer season, the membership paying round $400 million in switch charges already. Essentially the most notable of their signings is midfielder Florian Wirtz, for whom they paid Bayer Leverkusen an preliminary payment of round $135 million, although the checklist additionally consists of wingbacks Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Every of them solutions attacking wants for the Reds, who capitalized on Mohamed Salah’s unimaginable run of kind final season en path to the Premier League title however don’t appear intent on resting on their laurels.
Liverpool appear intent on constructing an attacking juggernaut that can compete for a number of titles subsequent season, with Ekitike prone to play a vital function of their success within the quick and long run. This is a more in-depth take a look at what the Frenchman can supply the Reds.
Hugo Ekitike’s strengths: Versatility, nostril for objective
Ekitike boasts some apparent qualities as a ahead, chief amongst them a capability to attain targets. He had 24 in 64 video games for Frankfurt and was the Bundesliga’s second-best participant when it comes to anticipated targets final season, producing a tally of 21.62 and ending inside the highest 10 for targets scored with 15. He additionally delivers a excessive quantity of pictures, main Germany‘s high flight within the 2024-25 marketing campaign for pictures with 117 and was second within the league for pictures on objective with 48.
His flexibility throughout the entrance line solely provides to his promise, particularly contemplating his capability to contribute to the staff effort. Ekitike notched 14 assists throughout his spell at Frankfurt together with eight within the Bundesliga final season, aiding seven completely different gamers in his closing season with the staff. His wide-ranging skillset has made him a straightforward goal for a handful of England‘s most high-profile groups and may serve him nicely at Liverpool, particularly since he has but to succeed in the height of his powers.
Hugo Ekitike’s weaknesses: Lack of physicality, expertise
There’s an argument to be made that Ekitike might not presently have the physicality to compete in a league the place these calls for are at their highest, whereas the truth that Liverpool acquired him proper after his breakout season in Germany means the 23-year-old doesn’t but have the physique of labor to display that he’s a dependable choose for the long run. These are fixable issues, although, and the Reds will hope they will eradicate a number of the different gaps in his sport. According to The Athletic, Frankfurt reportedly deliberate for Ekitike to stay round subsequent season, figuring out ending and work in opposition to deep defensive blocks as areas of enchancment.
What went fallacious at Paris Saint-Germain
Ekitike’s first publicity to the atmosphere of main golf equipment got here with a short spell at Paris Saint-Germain, who scooped up the participant after an 11-goal season for his hometown membership Reims within the 2021-22 marketing campaign. He initially joined PSG on a season-long mortgage for the 2022-23 marketing campaign after which on a everlasting deal the next season, although incomes minutes was simpler stated than accomplished. Ekitike was within the French capital for the ultimate years of PSG’s spell with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, which means enjoying time was arduous to come back by. He performed practically 1,200 league minutes in two seasons, averaging slightly below 45 minutes per match, and scored simply 4 targets earlier than becoming a member of Frankfurt on mortgage for the second half of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
What went proper after Paris Saint-Germain
Enjoying time served Ekitike nicely in Germany, the place he lastly got here into his personal and was bolstered by an thrilling, younger staff. He demonstrated each a robust capability to dribble and move, translating that into spectacular goalscoring and help numbers and completed final season as Frankfurt’s high goalscorer with 22 targets. Ekitike partnered nicely with Omar Marmoush, who scored 20 targets final season earlier than leaving for Manchester Metropolis within the winter, however excelled individually from his ex-teammate each when it comes to targets and assists.
How Hugo Ekitike matches in at Liverpool
Salah’s exceptional particular person efficiency final season papered over Liverpool’s attacking cracks final season, even when supervisor Arne Slot appeared to choose extra attacking restraint than predecessor Jurgen Klopp in his first season with the Reds. Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz had been the one different gamers to ship double-digit targets final season however there no was no pure alternative for the No. 9 place — it clearly was not Diaz’s finest match and Darwin Nunez was pretty ineffective in Slot’s first 12 months, notching simply seven targets in 47 appearances throughout all competitions.
Ekitike is presently the best-suited participant for that function at Liverpool, even when a possible transfer for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak may shake issues up in that division. The 23-year-old shouldn’t be a one-note No. 9, although, which serves the Reds nicely as they create a brand new attacking identification. Wirtz will clearly be the principle participant tasked with creating targets, however Ekitike has the power to assist out in a giant approach, whereas Frimpong and Kerkez ought to have the ability to contribute to the attacking imaginative and prescient with forward-thinking play on the wings. This isn’t a plan that makes Salah irrelevant, both – the plethora of broad gamers may permit the Egypt worldwide to play inside extra typically, which may very well be a sensible tactical evolution for the 33-year-old within the closing years of his profession, particularly since he’s nonetheless in sturdy kind.
