Ekitike

On a night when Liverpool celebrated the goalscoring arrival of their record signing Alexander Isak, a moment of madness has proved costly for their other in-form forward.

Hugo Ekitike scored the winner in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory against Southampton to progress to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

But, caught up in the moment of his 85th-minute goal, striker Ekitike removed his shirt and held it up to the Liverpool fans in celebration.

He most likely knew he would get booked for that and was happy it was a price worth paying, but what he had seemingly forgotten is that he had already been shown a yellow card.

The sending-off means he will be suspended for Saturday’s Premier League game at Crystal Palace – not ideal when the player he is potentially in a battle for a starting spot with is returning to full fitness.

Ekitike went on social media on Tuesday night to apologise, saying: “I was so excited to help the team achieve another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup match.

“The emotion got the better of me. My apologies to all the Red family. Thanks to the fans who always support us and to my team-mates for this victory!”

But, speaking just after the game, his manager Arne Slot was left bemused by the incident.

“It is not [stupid] because it was his second [yellow] – it’s stupid even if you haven’t had a yellow card yet,” he said.

“Maybe I’m a bit old-fashioned but I did score a few goals – not at his level but I did – and if I went past three players and put it in the top corner then maybe you can say ‘this is all about me’.

“But if I scored a goal like he did tonight, I would turn to Chiesa and say ‘it’s about you Federico – great assist, great run and I didn’t have to do a lot’. Maybe that’s me being old-school.

“It was stupid, not smart in every sense. The good thing is that his team-mates helped him to get the win over the line, but the thing is he is now suspended for Saturday and that is far from ideal.”

Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace): He was excellent in the win over West Ham, not only his goal – which was a wonderful finish – but also his ability to go up and down the pitch for 90 minutes and never stop, never complain. Arguably one of the best one-on-one defenders in the country. Really impressive.

Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth): Both of my centre-backs get in because they are from the only teams who kept clean sheets this week. Senesi is developing into a wonderful player, especially when we look at who Bournemouth sold this summer. There was a lot of talk about their defenders who moved on to Real Madrid, PSG and Liverpool for £150m-odd combined – and then Senesi who was there last season steps up and is a massively important player for them.

Sven Botman (Newcastle): I was at Newcastle’s game against Barcelona and Botman looked frustrated and a bit disenfranchised when he didn’t come on. However, to get a start in the next game, play 90 minutes, and get a clean sheet with the amount of injuries he’s had was a massive show of character. He’s Newcastle’s best centre-half, he just struggles to stay fit.

Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest): Yes he scored but I also think under Ange Postecoglou – with a more attacking style and flair – we’re going to see another level to his game. He had a couple of shots that Dubravka saved. He could be one to keep an eye on going forward.

Hugo Ekitike was Liverpool’s headline act on a night of pure theatre at Anfield which was high on emotion and rich in thrilling drama, but was also played out under the shadow of allegations of racist abuse.

Ekitike might face a future fight for his place only weeks after making a £70m from Eintracht Frankfurt, with Newcastle United rebel Alexander Isak still on Liverpool’s agenda – but he stated his case eloquently with a superb individual display that made him an instant hero on The Kop.

Liverpool’s 4-2 win, secured with late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah, was packed with sub-plots – not all of them good. Indeed, the scoreline barely touches the sides of a chaotic night.

It all started with emotional tributes to Diogo Jota, the Liverpool striker killed in a car crash in July, along with his brother Andre Silva.

The Kop was adorned with banners paying tribute to Jota, including one for his family reading: ‘Anfield will always be your home. You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before a minute’s silence.

Jota was remembered in song throughout, with a rousing minute of applause after 20 minutes for the beloved striker who wore the number 20 shirt.

It was a night when Liverpool’s expensive transition was on display, with four Premier League newcomers including Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, as well as full-back pair Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

The scale of change is illustrated by the fact that, excluding the inaugural 1992-93 season, Liverpool are the first reigning champions to name as many as four Premier League debutants in their opening-day starting line-up.

Ekitike was the best of that quartet by a distance, throwing up a conundrum about how head coach Arne Slot will adapt should Liverpool return to Tyneside with a bid closer to the striker Newcastle rate at £150m.

Slot has barely used a strike pairing since he arrived at Liverpool, so it would be a change of gear to combine Ekitike and Isak should the latter arrive.

It may not quite beg the question of whether Liverpool actually need to make such a lavish outlay on another striker, but it will give Slot a conundrum to solve.

We don’t necessarily need to come up with a wildcard formation that crams all the new signings into the same team.

If all goes well Liverpool will play over 60 games next season, meaning they will need a regularly rotating front line to keep legs fresh and opponents guessing.

Ekitike as a £69m cover option probably doesn’t sound very appealing, but he will arguably be the second-best player in four separate positions for Liverpool – although Szoboszlai, rivalling Wirtz, might say otherwise.

When you consider injuries, the need to rotate for twice-weekly football, and Slot’s tactical adaptations to the opposition, Ekitike could easily tot up over 30 starts in all competitions even if he wasn’t technically considered to be in the club’s best XI.

Not that managers of elite clubs tend to think in terms of ‘best XIs’ anymore – schedules are too busy and injuries too common for that.

In fact, what fans assume to be their team’s best XI rarely actually play together, as many Liverpool supporters know all too well.

The most mind-blowing example of this phenomenon was first highlighted by Duncan Alexander,, external who pointed out that the supposedly-iconic Liverpool XI under Klopp – the one that started the Champions League final – had never played together before that game and never played together after it.

So, how do you solve the riddle? How do you get all of Liverpool’s new signings into the same team? Answer: you don’t.

Liverpool have completed the signing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69m, subject to international clearance.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has passed a medical and agreed personal terms.

Ekitike will fly out to join Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Asia later this week.

LIVERPOOL have announced the arrival of new striker Hugo Ekitike in a £79million deal from Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Frenchman’s arrival comes after months of the Reds courting him and his camp, with an end-of-season meeting with Arne Slot proving crucial in turning his head.

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Eiktike, 23, becomes Liverpool’s latest big-money addition this summer after splashing out on the like of Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Florian Wirtz – taking their total spend to just under £300m.

The striker has penned a six-year deal on Merseyside, tying his future down with the champions after his impressive campaign in the Bundesliga last term.

Ekitike scored 15 goals and registered eight assists in his 33 Bundesliga appearances during the 2024/25 campaign, earning himself a spot in the league’s Team of the Season.

According to The Athletic, Liverpool beat a number of their Premier League rivals to Ekitike’s signature.

Chelsea are said to have explored a move, Manchester United considered a late bid and Newcastle were well-known to have had an offer knocked back by Frankfurt.

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Newcastle had a £70m bid for Ekitike rejected this month, while Liverpool have shown an interest in Magpies striker Alexander Isak.

Ekitike scored 15 goals in 31 starts as Frankfurt finished third in the Bundesliga last season.

His arrival will push Liverpool’s spending past £250m this summer.

They signed Florian Wirtz for a potential British record £116m, while defenders Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have arrived for a combined £70m.

More on Isak

The dramatic move came as Liverpool REJECTED Bayern Munich’s initial £58.6m bid for Colombian winger Luis Diaz while they are trying to encourage a high-price auction between AC Milan and Saudi money-pots Al-Hilal for Uruguayan Darwin Nunez.

But it is the stunning stepping up of the Reds’ long-term interest in Alexander Isak that has caught Newcastle on the hop, especially as boss Eddie Howe was hoping they were looking to play France under-21 star Etitike alongside

Liverpool chief Arne Slot has led the club’s mourning over the tragic loss of Portuguese star Diogo Jota following his car crash death earlier this month.

Slot and the Anfield hierarchy, though, are also aware that the start of the new Prem season is now less than a month away and that putting together a squad able to retain their crown is critical.

Newcastle are believed to value Isak at £150million, a sum that would be prohibitive even for Liverpool.

But a record-breaking bid, freeing up funds for Howe to bolster his squad ahead of a Champions League campaign in addition to the domestic demands might make Toon bosses think again.

Frankfurt are willing to sell Etitike but their starting price is £85m, although there may be wriggle room for negotiations.

Liverpool’s response to Bayern’s Diaz offer – the German champions fear they will be without Jamal Musiala for the entire season after his horror leg break in the Club World Cup – was a flat rejection although they are looking to offload Nunez.

Liverpool expected to rival Newcastle for Hugo Ekitike, Reds also interested in Ollie Watkins and Victor Osimhen, and Eintracht Frankfurt reject Magpies’ written offer for Ekitike.

Liverpool are expected to rival Newcastle United for Eintracht Frankfurt’s French striker Hugo Ekitike, 23, after being told Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25, is not for sale in this window. (Sky Sports) , external

The Magpies feel the leaking of Liverpool’s £120m interest into the public domain is designed to unsettle Isak. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

As well as Ekitike, Liverpool have also made enquiries about four other attackers in case they are unable to secure a deal for Isak – Aston Villa‘s Ollie Watkins, 29, Napoli‘s Victor Osimhen, 26, Yoane Wissa of Brentford, 28, and Real Madrid‘s Rodrygo, 24. (Mail+ – subscription required), external

Meanwhile, Frankfurt are understood to have rejected an offer from Newcastle worth £69m for Ekitike. (Sky Sports Germany) , external

Napoli have informed Liverpool a deal for Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, 26, can be considered off. (Fabrizio Romano) , external

Colombia winger Luis Diaz, 28, has made it clear he wants to leave the Reds after the club rejected a £58.6m bid from Bayern Munich. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Leeds United have reached an agreement in principle for Newcastle’s 27-year-old English midfielder Sean Longstaff. (Athletic – subscription required) , external

Tottenham are rivalling Inter Milan to sign 23-year-old Belgium defender Koni de Winter. (i paper) , external

Bournemouth are holding out for £59m for Ukraine centre-back Illia Zabaryni, 22, who is wanted by Paris St-Germain. (Independent), external

Chelsea are ready to begin a summer clearout with Portugal forward Joao Felix, 25, in talks over a return to Benfica and France’s Christopher Nkunku, 27, also set to leave. (Standard), external

Manchester United have registered their interest in signing Juventus and Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz this summer, with Everton also keen on the 27-year-old. (Football Insider) , external

Liverpool and France centre-back Ibrahima Konate, 26, has rejected a lucrative approach from the Saudi Pro League. (Mirror) , external

The Reds have put a £43.5m price tag on Konate for any clubs interested this summer. (AS – in Spanish) , external

Sassuolo and Italy striker Andrea Pinamonti is attracting interest from West Ham, with London rivals Brentford also enquiring about the 26-year-old. (Standard), external

There is interest from Leeds United in signing Spain striker Gonzalo Garcia, 21, on loan from Real Madrid. (TBR Football), external

Nottingham Forest have made Aston Villa and England Under-21s midfielder Jacob Ramsey, 24, their number one target this window. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Newcastle have made a move to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.

The 23-year-old scored 15 goals and made eight assists last season as his side finished third in the Bundesliga.

Sources said Newcastle are now exploring a potential deal to sign the Frenchman, who would likely cost more than £70m.

Despite the interest in Ekitike, BBC Sport has been told Newcastle have no interest in selling last season’s top scorer Alexander Isak who has been linked with clubs across Europe including Liverpool.

Sweden striker Isak, 25, joined from Real Sociedad in 2022 for £63m, which is currently the club’s record purchase.

Ekitike only joined Frankfurt last summer after an initial loan spell from Paris St-Germain and is under contract for another four years.

Paris St-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is on Chelsea’s radar, Newcastle eye Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, while West Ham want Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz.

Chelsea are interested in signing Paris St-Germain and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 27. (L’Equipe – in French), external

Newcastle have rekindled their interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s French forward Hugo Ekitike, 23, and hope to beat Liverpool to his signing. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

West Ham are keen on signing former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz from Juventus, with the 27-year-old Brazilian having struggled to make an impact in Serie A. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Barcelona continue to work on deals for both Liverpool’s Colombia winger Luis Diaz, 28, and Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, but will not rush to sign either player. (Marca – in Spanish), external

Sporting are ready to take disciplinary action against Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 27, after he missed his deadline to report for pre-season training as waits on a move to Arsenal. (Guardian), external

Juventus have offered Manchester United £8.65m plus bonuses to take English winger Jadon Sancho, 25 off their hands. (Sky Sports Italy – in Italian), external

Aston Villa’s Argentina international Emiliano Martinez is still of interest to Manchester United but the two clubs are quite a way apart with their valuations of the 32-year-old. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Arsenal have made progress in discussions with 18-year-old English midfielder Ethan Nwaneri over a new contract. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Bayern Munich are still monitoring France forward Christopher Nkunku’s situation at Chelsea but whether they move for the 27-year-old will depend on the rest of their transfer business. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Newcastle United would have to agree a £100m deal to sign England striker Ollie Watkins, 29, from Aston Villa this summer. (Football Insider), external

Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher is open to a Premier League return after the England midfielder, 25, was offered to Newcastle. (Teamtalk), external

Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal and clubs in Italy have made enquiries about RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko after Arsenal distanced themselves from signing the Slovenia striker, 22. (Teamtalk), external

West Ham have told Roma they are looking to sell Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd, 29, and will not let him leave the club on loan. (Gianluca di Marzio – in Italian), external

Napoli have jumped ahead of Leeds in the race to sign Torino’s 28-year-old Serbia goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. (Football Italia), external