Jamie Carragher has suggested Hugo Ekitike could step up if Liverpool cannot sign Newcastle United star Alexander Isak this summer.
Liverpool hijacked Newcastle’s move for Ekitike and are now trying to sign Isak too.
Newcastle had tracked Ekitike for years but could do nothing as he moved to the Premier League champions.
The Frenchman scored on his competitive debut for the Reds on Friday night and will no doubt be one of the main talking points when Liverpool come to St James’ Park on Monday night.
Isak will be too. It’s hard to imagine him playing in the fixture of course but the Sweden star will be frequently discussed before, during and after the game.
Still, Newcastle insist that Isak is not for sale and the closer the transfer deadline draws to a close, seemingly the more likely it is that he stays.
Carragher thinks Ekitike could be enough to cover for Liverpool if they cannot land their man.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesJamie Carragher feels “sorry” for Hugo Ekitike amid Alexander Isak debate
The Liverpool legend was speaking on Sky Sports after Arne Slot’s side beat Bournemouth 4-2 on Friday night to kick off the 2025/26 Premier League season.
He expressed sympathy for Ekitike, given he’s only just arrived at Anfield but the club are already trying to sign a new forward.
While the Sky Sports pundit said Isak was a better player right now and that Liverpool did need signings, he suggested the former PSG youngster could make people forget about Isak if the Reds really do miss out on him.
“I’ve actually felt a little bit sorry for him with all the talk around Isak,” he said.
“It’s easy to just say ‘oh, go and get Isak’ but what does it mean for him? There’s talk about him playing on the left but he looks like that’s his position, he’s a centre-forward.
“He’s made a brilliant start!”
Jamie Carragher praises Hugo Ekitike after his player of the match performance in his Premier League debut pic.twitter.com/T8BbUpq9Y6
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“He likes to drop deep, he likes to get on the ball. He’s probably not going to be a centre-forward who is going to be backing into defenders and going up against them.
“He’s got a slight frame, so he needs to sort of get away from them and take them into wide areas. For me, he’s made a brilliant start.
“He’s not as good as Isak, of course he’s not, he’s four or five years younger [he’s only two] than him.
“I’m sure Liverpool – when they bought him – were thinking this fella could grow into one of the top strikers in world football.
“So yeah, I think it’s just really interesting now to see what Liverpool do in terms of the attacking players that they bring in because they have to bring attacking players in.
“But that will do him [Ekitike] the world of good and also give players confidence and maybe even supporters confidence that it’s not all about Isak and if you don’t get him it’s the end of the world.
“You might have someone pretty special up front already.”
Hugo Ekitike has already sent a “message” to Alexander Isak
BBC Sport pundit Glenn Murray thought Ekitike sent a message to Isak with his goal celebration for Liverpool in the Community Shield.
The Reds forward used his hands to mimic people talking after he opened the scoring in the opening exchanges at Wembley.
Murray suggested Ekitike was blocking out all the noise about the Newcastle striker.
Liverpool, of course, went on to lose the game on penalties.
Ekitike, like Isak, will no doubt be a point of focus when Liverpool head to Newcastle on Monday night.