Liverpool fans enjoyed something of a transfer frenzy this week as their striker search began to clear up
Liverpool’s pursuit of a new centre-forward took a big turn this week — but it might not be the end of the story just yet.
The Reds had long been tipped to make a move in this area of the pitch, and after much speculation, they finally acted on Tuesday. Naturally, there was huge excitement as Liverpool made an approach for Alexander Isak, a player many fans see as the ideal number nine for Arne Slot’s system.
But Newcastle, understandably, are not keen on letting the Swede go. Talks didn’t move forward, and Liverpool quickly shifted their attention to another forward — Hugo Ekitike.
As reported by Rousing The Kop, the door isn’t completely closed on Isak, but Liverpool are now focused on securing Ekitike. They were keen to get the deal done in time for him to join the squad on their upcoming trip to Asia. However, that timeline now looks a little too optimistic.
Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam gave an update on the situation, making it clear that things are not as far along as some might have thought.
“Not close at the moment,” McAdam said. “There’s a lot of noise on social media, but if you believed everything, you’d think the deal was already wrapped up. Liverpool fans need to calm down — it’s progressing, but not at any real pace.”
According to McAdam, there are ongoing talks between Liverpool and Eintracht Frankfurt. No official offer has been made yet, but a £75 million package is being discussed. The key detail here is that Ekitike wants the move. He’s made it clear behind the scenes that he’s open to joining Liverpool, and personal terms won’t be a problem.
That puts Liverpool in a strong position, even if the final stages of the deal are still ahead.
So why is Ekitike high on Slot’s list?
It’s not just about filling the number nine role. McAdam explained that Slot has been drawn to Ekitike’s versatility — he can play through the middle, out wide, or even drop into a deeper attacking role. That kind of flexibility is exactly what the Dutch manager wants in his forward line.
In fact, this could be a sign that Ekitike is being signed not purely as a striker, but as someone who can move across multiple roles — and maybe even play alongside another forward like Isak.
So while Ekitike is very much in focus now, don’t be too quick to rule out the possibility of Liverpool revisiting Isak later this window. The club’s interest in him hasn’t gone away — and if the opportunity arises again, they could still go back in for their original target.
For now, though, all eyes are on Ekitike — and Liverpool are moving carefully, but confidently.