Liverpool are approaching the €300 million mark in transfer spending this summer, as Arne Slot’s side accelerates its rebuild. The Merseyside club has reached an agreement with Hugo Ekitike, the 23-year-old French striker from Eintracht Frankfurt, on a six-year contract. Ekitike, who reportedly turned down a £70 million (€81m) offer from Newcastle, is now on the verge of joining the Reds.
Ekitike was initially overvalued at €28.5 million when PSG signed him, but he was later deemed surplus to requirements and sold to Frankfurt for €17.5 million. The German side could now net a massive profit, with a base valuation of €81 million. Frankfurt, who finished third in the Bundesliga, had already pulled off a stunning deal earlier this year when they sold Omar Marmoush to Manchester City for €70 million. The Egyptian striker had joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg just months before.
Liverpool’s lavish spending has heavily benefited Bundesliga clubs. Before the Ekitike deal, the Reds paid a combined €168.9 million to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz (€134.2m) and Jeremie Frimpong (€34.7m). Add to that the €46.2 million paid to Bournemouth for Milos Kerkez, and Liverpool have already invested a staggering minimum of €296.1 million on just four players this summer.
Leicester part ways with Van Nistelrooy after relegation
28 Jun - 09:00 •
1' min
