Liverpool are advancing in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over the transfer of Hugo Ekitike.

The club’s proposed package to sign the 23-year-old striker is in excess of €80million (£69.2m; $92.7m) and personal terms are not expected to be an issue.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that Liverpool had made contact with Frankfurt over a possible move for the Frenchman, who has also been targeted by Newcastle United, but a move to Anfield had always been Ekitike’s preference.

Manchester United also admire the striker, although they have made no formal approach over a transfer.

Frankfurt rejected an offer from Newcastle of around €75million (£64.9m; $86.9m) for Ekitike, in whom the Premier League side cooled their interest as they pursued a deal for Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.

Ekitike scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists across all competitions for Frankfurt last season after signing for the Bundesliga club permanently in a deal worth €17.5m in the summer of 2024, following a loan spell from PSG in the previous campaign.

Liverpool’s move for Ekitike coincides with the Anfield club’s pursuit of Newcastle forward Alexander Isak. Liverpool communicated their interest about doing a deal in the region of £120m for the 25-year-old Sweden international.

Arne Slot’s squad is likely to have exits in the coming weeks with Liverpool open to offers for Darwin Nunez, while winger Luiz Diaz has informed the club of his desire to leave.

Liverpool have been busy in the summer transfer window, signing playmaker Florian Wirtz in a club record deal alongside his former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong and full-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.

Additional reporting from Sebastian Stafford-Bloor and James Pearce

‘Ekitike exactly the profile that Liverpool look to target’

Analysis by Liverpool correspondent Andy Jones

Isak has been Liverpool supporters’ ideal No 9 target all summer, but Newcastle’s ‘not for sale’ stance has made them look elsewhere too — and Ekitike looks like their preferred alternative.

The need to strengthen the No 9 position was highlighted heading into the summer with Nunez set to leave.

Slot tried a number of options in that role last season, with Luis Diaz becoming his preferred selection. It was a tricky position to play in though with plenty demanded and goals didn’t flow for any of those who operated there.

Liverpool will hope to change that and Ekitike showed his goalscoring credentials during an excellent season at Frankfurt where he scored 22 goals in all competitions and provided 12 assists across 48 appearances.

Aged 23, he is exactly the profile Liverpool look to target — a player with first-team experience, but with potential to develop further. Unlike Isak, he is not the finished product, but he possesses a lot of traits that can be moulded into making him an elite striker.

Ekitike is a tall, quick and technically gifted striker who would offer Liverpool a focal point for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz to thrive off. He is a threat in the box, possesses clever movement and on the counter-attack, his athleticism and ball carrying attributes stand out.

(Photo: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)