Liverpool get green light to SIGN Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool have been given a green light to sign Hugo Ekitike. But there's a catch, of course.

Liverpool are in the market for a new striker this summer. It comes after another season of inconsistency from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez - neither have been able to offer the kind of quality Arne Slot has wanted up top.

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Jota has been solid when he's played. It's just that he struggles to actually get on the pitch and has played a little over one-third of Liverpool's Premier League minutes this season.

Nunez is available pretty much constantly. He's got the opposite problem - you never know what he's going to do when he's out there.

The Uruguayan has had that issue since day one at Liverpool, of course. We fully expect the Reds to move on from him this summer.

Everyone is aware of the first choice to replace him, too: Alexander Isak. Newcastle United really, really don't want to sell, though, and have set his price at nearly double Liverpool's transfer record.

That's turned the club's attention elsewhere and they're reportedly looking at a move for Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike. He's very much available, too.

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Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool

Football Insider claims Liverpool have been told that Hugo Ekitike is available to buy this summer. If the Reds want him, he's theirs - if they meet the asking price.

And that's where things get complicated. Frankfurt now want £80m for their striker, a figure up about £20m from a couple of months ago.

It's a real test of Liverpool's interest in Ekitike. He's no longer a 'bargain' signing and instead would be a significant outlay.

In fact, he'd be Liverpool's record transfer if Frankfurt want that money guaranteed.

Working in the deal's favour is that fact he'd still be dramatically cheaper than Isak. That might ultimately be the reason Liverpool simply accept Frankfurt's price here and move for Ekitike.

Because the Reds need a centre-forward. They can't afford to come out of the summer without a big move up top and there aren't many, if any, better options than Ekitike.

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Frankfurt have given the green light for a move but with the catch of a high price. It's still one Liverpool may be willing to pay, though.