Liverpool agree personal terms to sign world-class star

Liverpool have played the long game recruitment-wise, and boy, does it look to be paying off now.

12 months ago, rival supporters were no doubt sneering at the Reds’ lack of transfer activity, with the Anfield side – who had seen the great Jurgen Klopp replaced by Arne Slot – expected to implode with only Federico Chiesa brought in to bolster the ranks.

A new manager normally calls for a mass overhaul, but instead, the Dutchman merely tweaked and tinkered, ultimately steering an already talented squad to Premier League glory at the very first attempt.

A quiet 2024 window now looks to have paid even greater dividends for the imperious champions, with £187m already dished out on five signings this summer, while further high-profile deals could lie in store for the financially secure outfit.

Recent reports have indicated that Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is expected to be on his way to Anfield, while Newcastle United man Alexander Isak remains the dream target for those on Merseyside.

Whether that ‘dream’ becomes a reality is anyone’s guess, however, with alternatives to the Swede still under consideration.

Latest on Liverpool’s transfer dealings

They say to strengthen while on top, and that appears to be exactly what Richard Hughes and co are plotting, with reports outlining that a £120m move could be in the offing for that man Isak.

The Magpies are adamant that the former Real Sociedad striker won’t be sold, however, hence why Liverpool are keeping their options open, with speculation even hinting at controversial interest in Manchester United outcast, Marcus Rashford.

That admiration for the Englishman is unlikely to go any further, however, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike the man being lined up in case Isak can’t be prised from St James’ Park.

As revealed by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Reds made contact with the Bundesliga side regarding a potential move for the 23-year-old, amid that parallel interest in Isak.

That has been followed by further reports in France, which suggest that Ekitike has even agreed personal terms with the club, after signing off on a six-year contract with the Merseyside outfit.

The suggestion is that he only wants to join Slot’s side, despite the rival pursuit from Newcastle.

A price tag of around €80m (£70m) has been mooted. Watch this space.

Why Ekitike could have shades of Coutinho

It is no secret that Isak is the man that Liverpool want, with there likely to be a sense of Ekitike being left to feel like second choice, should a deal for the former France U21 international be pursued instead.

A move for the Frankfurt man may well be more with one eye on the future, however, with there no immediate rush to propel him into the starting lineup at Anfield, not least with Slot already boasting a title-winning forward line.

Fresh off the back of scoring 22 goals in all competitions last season, Ekitike could be slowly integrated into the team in 2025/26, before truly exploding in years to come. Already looking like “one of the best strikers out there“, as per analyst Ben Mattinson, there is no telling the heights that he could reach.

In many ways then, such a deal could evoke memories of the purchase of a young Philippe Coutinho back in January 2013, with Liverpool forking out £8.5m to sign the then 20-year-old from Inter Milan, ahead of rival interest from Southampton.

Like Ekitike – who only scored four goals in 33 games during a difficult stint at Paris Saint-Germain – Coutinho hadn’t exactly flourished during his time in Italy, making just 47 appearances and scoring only five times in total at the San Siro.

It was a loan switch to Espanyol in January 2012 that appeared to reinvigorate the Vasco de Gama youth product, as he scored five times in just 16 games in Spain. Ekitike, meanwhile, joined Frankfurt on an initial loan 18 months ago, scoring four times in just 14 league games at the tail-end of 2023/24.

Like Coutinho, Ekitike appears to have flourished away from the bright lights of an elite club like PSG, although that’s not to suggest he can’t thrive second time around by joining another European giant in Liverpool.

What particularly stands out regarding the “world-class” talent – as per scout Jacek Kulig – is the creative ability that goes along with his ball-striking prowess, having registered eight assists and created 12 ‘big chances’ in the Bundesliga last time out, as per Sofascore. For comparison, only Mohamed Salah provided more league assists (18) back at Anfield.

That blend of creativity and quality in front of goal was also evident during Coutinho’s fruitful stint for the Reds, having scored 54 goals and registered 44 assists in 201 games, prior to his £142m exit to Barcelona.

Where the pair – who can both operate centrally or in that left channel – are also alike is in their ball-carrying prowess, with Ekitike ranking in the top 4% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

For Coutinho, his final season in the Premier League for Liverpool saw him rank in the top 1% and the top 4% of midfielders for those same two metrics, respectively, having possessed that gift for breezing past an opponent with ease.

Having been an exciting young prospect initially under Brendan Rodgers, the Brazilian playmaker ultimately emerged as a central figure for the club over the next few years, with the chance there for Ekitike – alongside Florian Wirtz – to enjoy a similar progression when Salah’s impact ultimately begins to wane.

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