🔍 What’s happening in the transfer saga?
Liverpool is preparing to launch a formal bid for the 23-year-old Ekitike after Newcastle saw a £70 million offer rejected by Frankfurt. Liverpool’s interest has intensified in recent days and they’ve informed Frankfurt of intent to bid (The Guardian).
Newcastle United has now withdrawn from the race, and Ekitike is reportedly said to prefer Liverpool over Newcastle, reportedly even turning down Manchester United (The Scottish Sun).
Liverpool is believed to have offered around €80 million (approx. £70 million) for the striker, but Frankfurt are holding out for the full release clause of €100 million (c. £86.5 million) (The Guardian).
✅ Summary of the current situation
Issue Current status
✅ Bid status An €80m offer reportedly made; Frankfurt wants full €100m clause
🧠 Player preference Ekitike reportedly favors a move to Liverpool
🏟️ Competition from rivals Newcastle is out; Man United reportedly declined by player
✔ Agreement for personal terms Ekitike reportedly agreed on a six-year deal
🚫 So: Is it done?
Not yet. While personal terms seem agreed and Newcastle have pulled out, the deal hinges on Liverpool meeting the €100 million release clause. As of now, negotiations are ongoing—not finalized.
⚽ What makes him appealing?
In the 2024–25 season, Ekitike scored 15 Bundesliga goals and added 8 assists in 33 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt, contributing a total of 22 goals and 11 assists across all competitions (CaughtOffside, TalkSport, Diario AS, Wikipedia).
Scouts have tracked him closely: his expected goals and assists per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga were among the highest across Europe—often compared to Alexander Isak in performance metrics (This Is Anfield).
Though still considered “raw” by some analysts, his physicality, finishing ability, and pressing style reportedly suit Arne Slot’s tactical setup at Liverpool (This Is Anfield).
🧪 Bottom line
The signing is not “done” yet, but Liverpool are in advanced talks, with an agreed contract in place (six years) and the player favoring Anfield. The missing piece is a fee that meets Eintracht Frankfurt’s €100 million release clause.
🔮 What happens next?
Liverpool and Frankfurt will negotiate over the coming days. If negotiations stall or Liverpool won’t meet €100m, the deal could collapse—or shift to another target.
If no agreement is reached soon, Liverpool may revisit other options like Alexander Isak, though he’s reportedly valued higher and Newcastle may not sell (The Guardian, TalkSport).
If you’d like context on Ekitike’s playing style, key stats, or comparisons to other strikers in the mix, I’d be happy to dive into that too—just let me know
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