Liverpool launch Hugo Ekitike bid with agreement wanted 'this week' | OneFootball

Reds making swift progress in latest high-profile summer transfer swoop as Newcastle turn attentions to Brentford’s Yoane Wissa

He now looks to be heading to Merseyside instead, with Fabrizio Romano reporting on Thursday morning that the reigning Premier League champions had tabled an official bid for the 23-year-old that was rejected as talks continue over a player who has apparently already said yes to the switch with no issues expected over personal terms.

The Athletic report that the total package offered by Liverpool for Ekitike - also linked with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, among others - is worth €80m (£69.2m), while the BBC say the club want the transfer completed by the weekend as they prepare to travel to Asia for their pre-season tour.

Liverpool’s need for a new striker comes with Darwin Nunez expected to leave the club before the September 1 transfer deadline amid sustained interest from sides in Serie A and Saudi Arabia, though lead suitors Napoli are closing in on the signing of Italy international Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese instead as he prepares to undergo a medical.

Liverpool also recently rejected a £58.5m opening bid from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz, who has apparently informed the club of his desire to leave amid other interest from Barcelona and Saudi Arabia.

Ekitike would become the seventh new arrival of the summer to date for the Reds, who already secured the signing of Germany winger Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal that could rise to a British-record fee of £116m.

Full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have also been signed for a combined total of almost £70m, while Giorgi Mamardashvili completed his £29m transfer agreed with Valencia last year. Fellow goalkeeper Armin Pecsi also joined for £1.5m, while a third - Freddie Woodman - was signed on a free transfer.

In terms of outgoings, Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid early ahead of the Club World Cup for £10m and there have also been permanent exits for Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher and Nat Phillips, plus loans for the likes of Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies.

Newcastle are expected to turn their attentions to Yoane Wissa after missing out on Ekitike, which could spell trouble for Manchester United’s protracted pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo with Brentford unwilling to part with both of their star forwards this summer.

Ekitike - yet to make his senior international debut for France after previously featuring at Under-21 level - has scored 26 goals and provided 14 assists in 64 total appearances for Frankfurt, including 22 and 12 in 48 outings across all competitions last season.

He initially moved to the Bundesliga on loan in February 2024 after a frustrating spell at Paris Saint-Germain that followed his breakout at Reims, completing a permanent €17.5m move two months later.