Liverpool closing in on agreement for Newcastle transfer target after making Alexander Isak approach

Liverpool have submitted an improved offer for French forward Hugo Ekitike with an agreement now close to being finalised, talkSPORT understands. Talks remain ongoing between the Premier League champions and Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal which is expected to surpass £78million. Ekitike is poised to become Liverpool’s latest signingGetty Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and Frankfurt counterpart Markus Krosche hope to wrap up the deal this weekend or early next week. All parties are confident an agreement can be struck with only add-ons needing to be finalised. It’s understood that Ekitike has already agreed personal terms with the Merseyside outfit on a six-year contract. News of Liverpool’s latest bid will come as a blow to Newcastle, who had a £65m offer rejected for the 23-year-old. At the time of Newcastle’s offer, talkSPORT understood Frankfurt executives were reluctant to budge from their previous €100m (£87m) valuation for the forward who, up until last season, had failed to live up to high expectations. Blasting onto the scene with boyhood club Reims in 2021, Ekitike was pencilled in as a future France star, but didn’t live up to the hype with a failed move to Paris Saint-Germain coming with very little game time. But after a season in which he netted 22 times in all competitions for Frankfurt, he found himself on Liverpool and Newcastle’s radar. The Reds are on the lookout for a new striker with Darwin Nunez on the market and valued at £59m. As a prelude to their Ekitike interest, Liverpool indicated to Newcastle that they would be willing to pay a British record £120m for star striker Alexander Isak. The Magpies, though, value the player at £150m. The former PSG man enjoyed an impressive 2024/25 campaignGetty Ekitike is finally living up to his huge potential from his Reims days, but has just one season to show for itGetty With Newcastle refusing to budge, Liverpool have instead turned to Ekitike where they are hoping to wrap up a deal imminently. Should Ekitike join Liverpool as expected, it would take their summer spending spree to over £250m. Arne Slot’s side responded to the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid by bringing in a new right-back in Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m. Liverpool then added his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz for a British record £116m. Milos Kerkez was next through the door for £40m. And it remains to be seen if Liverpool will make a move to bring in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi after selling academy product Jarell Quansah to Leverkusen. Liverpool have already had a remarkable summer window without even signing a striker

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Liverpool closing in on agreement for Newcastle transfer target after making Alexander Isak approach

Liverpool have submitted an improved offer for French forward Hugo Ekitike with an agreement now close to being finalised, talkSPORT understands.

Talks remain ongoing between the Premier League champions and Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal which is expected to surpass £78million.

Ekitike is poised to become Liverpool’s latest signing
Getty

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and Frankfurt counterpart Markus Krosche hope to wrap up the deal this weekend or early next week.

All parties are confident an agreement can be struck with only add-ons needing to be finalised.

It’s understood that Ekitike has already agreed personal terms with the Merseyside outfit on a six-year contract.

News of Liverpool’s latest bid will come as a blow to Newcastle, who had a £65m offer rejected for the 23-year-old.

At the time of Newcastle’s offer, talkSPORT understood Frankfurt executives were reluctant to budge from their previous €100m (£87m) valuation for the forward who, up until last season, had failed to live up to high expectations.

Blasting onto the scene with boyhood club Reims in 2021, Ekitike was pencilled in as a future France star, but didn’t live up to the hype with a failed move to Paris Saint-Germain coming with very little game time.

But after a season in which he netted 22 times in all competitions for Frankfurt, he found himself on Liverpool and Newcastle’s radar.

The Reds are on the lookout for a new striker with Darwin Nunez on the market and valued at £59m.

As a prelude to their Ekitike interest, Liverpool indicated to Newcastle that they would be willing to pay a British record £120m for star striker Alexander Isak.

The Magpies, though, value the player at £150m.

The former PSG man enjoyed an impressive 2024/25 campaign
Getty
Ekitike is finally living up to his huge potential from his Reims days, but has just one season to show for it
Getty

With Newcastle refusing to budge, Liverpool have instead turned to Ekitike where they are hoping to wrap up a deal imminently.

Should Ekitike join Liverpool as expected, it would take their summer spending spree to over £250m.

Arne Slot’s side responded to the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid by bringing in a new right-back in Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m.

Liverpool then added his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz for a British record £116m.

Milos Kerkez was next through the door for £40m.

And it remains to be seen if Liverpool will make a move to bring in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi after selling academy product Jarell Quansah to Leverkusen.

Liverpool have already had a remarkable summer window without even signing a striker
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