TBR Football can exclusively confirm what Liverpool have up their sleeve following the signing of Hugo Ekitike.
On Wednesday evening, Liverpool announced the signing of Hugo Ekitike, who has joined the Reds in a deal reportedly worth £79million.
Liverpool are said to have paid an initial fee of £69million plus £10million in add-ons for the striker as their summer spending edges past £250million.
TBR Football can also confirm how Richard Hughes feels about Ekitike’s signing and what hopes the Reds have for the player at Anfield.
Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty ImagesHugo Ekitike will not be Liverpool’s last attacking signing this summer
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey can confirm that Liverpool feel Ekitike is a first-team ready option, but they reckon he can become so much better too.
Hughes has been a fan of Ekitike from his Reims days, so he’s understandably delighted to get the signing of the Frenchman over the line.
And better still for Liverpool fans, Ekitike is not expected to be the last attacking reinforcement at Anfield.
“Liverpool are delighted with this,” Bailey exclusively told TBR Football.
“Richard Hughes, I am told, liked him when he was at Reims and even had a look at him back then before Newcastle and then Paris Saint-Germain got involved.
“Liverpool think that Ekitike can deliver now but they feel his ceiling is as high as any striker in Europe.
“This is just the next part of their attacking jigsaw, this won’t be their last forward addition this summer.”
Liverpool began with a £70million offer before working their way to the bid that proved successful.
When Hugo Ekitike could make his Liverpool debut
Liverpool confirmed that Ekitike would be flying out to Hong Kong to join up with his teammates this week.
With that in mind, Ekitike’s first match in Liverpool colours could come as early as Saturday 26 July, when the Reds take on AC Milan in Hong Kong.
Liverpool then take on Yokohama F Marinos in Japan on Wednesday 30 July, before facing Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on Monday 4 August.
The Reds then take on Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday 10 August.
Liverpool are set to start their Premier League title defence at home to Bournemouth on Friday 15 August.