Hugo Ekitike wants to be there. This summer 2025, the Frenchman will join Liverpool, English champion and European cador. A new chance for the former Reims player who had already had a great opportunity in his career by joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2022 in the form of a loan before being definitively transferred. After a first season at 4 goals and 4 assists in 32 matches in all competitions, the one who was replacing did not enter the plans of the new coach, Luis Enrique. He was therefore pushed towards the release of the summer transfer window 2023. But Ekitike remained, who ended up in the closet. Once winter came, he joined Eintracht Frankfurt in the form of a loan before being transferred.
An appointment to succeed after PSG
A club in which it has grown in power the first six months before exploding everything in 2024-25. A season at 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions which opened the doors of the best clubs to him. Long at the time to make it the replacement for Alexander Isak in the event of departure from the Reds, Newcastle was preceded by Liverpool. Arne Slot, who discussed with the Frenchy, and the Mersey club pushed him to sign. Its transfer of just over € 90 million (bonus included) is now imminent. The center-forward is expected in England to pass his medical examination before signing a six-year lease. It is a sacred bet for the Reds. If Isak was a safe bet of the Premier League, Ekitike does not know the English championship and football.
He will have to adapt and especially convince, he who comes to replace a disappointing darwin Nuñez and on the start. His arrival therefore raises questions and arouses certain doubts. THE Liverpool Echo writes that several LFC fans wonder about its contribution. But the English media reassures them: “He still finished among the best Bundesliga scorers this season, among the best eight passers -by and the player who tried the most shots. Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, record recruit of Liverpool, were among those who touched the most posts. And Ekitike surpasses Isak at the same age, when the latter had just completed his visit to Real Sociedad and was on the way to Newcastle. ”
There are questions about him
THE THEwho believes he “Is not yet a finished product”continue: “Liverpool continues to turn to the Bundesliga after the arrival of the Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong players this summer. The last three recruits of JĂĽrgen Klopp were playing in Germany: Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch. But if Ekitike joins Liverpool, he hopes to counter several trends, including the relative lack of success of French players who arrived in Anfield. In total, 18 players in the country played for the Reds first team, more than half of which were recruited during the reign of the former coach of the French team GĂ©rard Houllier. In England, we hope that it will do better than some tricolor players spent there.
For his part, The Athletic is delighted with this signature. “Liverpool has always targeted a young attacker capable of representing the club for many years. Ekitike corresponds perfectly to this profile. He demonstrated it last season by scoring 22 goals in all competitions and by delivering 12 assists. Large, fast, it will constitute a point of convergence for the lateral rear and creative fields. Coach Arne Slot likes her center-forward working without possession, and Ekitike will follow these instructions while helping others represent a regular threat in the area thanks to his clever trips ”.
Lots of expectations in England
Journalist for this media, Thom Harris commented: “Only Mohamed Salah has accumulated more goals and assists in counter-attack than Ekitike in the four major European championships last season, while no team only scored Liverpool (14 goals). His ability to lead rapid counterattacks thanks to his fluid dribbles and conclude them thanks to his scorer instinct makes him promising hope at the head of another high-quality counterattack team. ” Specialist in English football, journalist Salim Bangally, he wonders. “Ekitike arouses many questions. I will even go further. The English press, very self-central, as well as some fans, do not know it. »»
He continues: “So they have redone for certain titles, including the Daily Mail, all of its career based on its failure at PSG. His statistics in Germany are interested in all. The big disappointment for Darwin Nuñez touches a lot. However, there are many fans who still want to believe in Uruguayan, especially since last year he scored key goals in the title race. So there is going to be something special with the sum put on French. Is this a reason to tenure it? Or will he slot be patient with him? It will be a key question of his management. »» On the side of the consultants, his case is also talked about.
The pressure of a large transfer to manage
Micah Richards confided to him: “Regarding Ekitike, I talked a lot about him with Thierry (Henry). He says that he is not a frustrating player, but a moment he is incredible and the next moment, he does not master the basics very well. He said that if he succeeded and improved, his potential could be very, very high. ” Frank Leboeuf, former Chelsea, has some doubts. “I'm happy for Hugo, that's for sure. I really hope that it will serve Liverpool in the best possible way and that it will be up to the price paid. But let me have some doubts. I saw him play at Paris Saint-Germain. It was complicated because there was Messi, Neymar and MbappĂ© at the time. But it was only good for a year. “
The 98 world champion continues: “This price puts a lot of pressure on his shoulders, so I'm waiting to see. I really hope he will do good things, but we will have to wait. They were warned by the transfer of Nuñez and now they do the same with Ekitike. It was absolutely fantastic and formidable last season, but Liverpool and the Premier League is another story, so wait to see. ” Present with him on set, Steven Nicol, former Liverpool player, retorted: “It's a bit hard, Frank. It is not because you have recruited a player who does not suit you that it should prevent you from recruiting another? This is just an example of a warning, so there you go. »»
Ekitike also has support
He added: “You have his heung-min, (Erling) Haaland comes from the Bundesliga. It is not as if the Bundesliga players were not used to scoring in the Premier League. Bobby Firmino did it in Liverpool. This guy is 23 years old. If, like (Darwin) Nuñez, Ekitike does not succeed, Liverpool will still recover a good part of this money, as with Nuñez. It is one of the best attackers in the world currently, so you have to pay the high price. I dug my head to understand what he cannot do. He has the goals, the technique, he can keep the ball, he can make heads, he has two feet … I can't find anything that allows me to say: “They must work on this, he must work on this”. He has everything. “
Leboeuf concluded: “When you say I'm hard, I just say to wait and see. This is the only thing I said. He had a great season last season, but I had already seen him at Paris Saint-Germain and, sorry, we have already seen players from Bundesliga, have difficulties in the Premier League. “ Former club, Djibril CissĂ© believes in this transfer. This is what he entrusted to The team. “I think his transfer had to surprise a lot of people in Liverpool, already (…) It would have been crazy not to go there, especially. Afterwards, he will have to perform. But with what he shows, in club as well as with hopes, it is no longer the same as in Paris. He found confidence, the desire to play, he tries crazy things and it succeeds, especially. “ Ekitike will answer all questions and expectations on the meadow. The best answers in the end …
