Man Utd threaten to DERAIL Liverpool's €100m move for Bundesliga sensation | OneFootball

Liverpool are planning big changes in the forward department this summer. Sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot are not standing still despite winning the Premier League title.

The Reds’ 20th top-flight victory was achieved largely without the services of a reliable No9. Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez have failed to convince for a variety of reasons and Luis Diaz acted as an emergency centre-forward throughout the campaign.

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But now the club are plotting to sign a starting striker in the summer transfer window - meaning Jota and Nunez in particular are under threat.

Should Hughes manage to bring in decent fees for the pair, then the Merseysiders should have plenty of money to spend on an upgrade in the position.

Liverpool want Ekitike

And one contender to arrive at Anfield in the off-season is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. The 22-year-old is thought to be valued by his club at around €100m having enjoyed a stellar Bundesliga campaign.

The Frenchman is set to become a hot commodity in the summer transfer market however with Caught Offside now reporting that Liverpool will be joined by Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United in their pursuit of Ekitike.

The Red Devils have endured a nightmare campaign, finishing 15th and losing the Europa League final, and want Ekitike to replace Rasmus Hojlund up top.

Indeed it’s claimed that Man Utd have already spoken with the player’s entourage ahead of an offer to Frankfurt for their star attraction.

© IMAGO - Hugo Ekitike Liverpool

Man Utd 'in advanced stages' of Ekitike bid

"Man United, in particular, are believed to be in advanced stages of internal planning around a formal bid,” the report reads.

“The Red Devils have held positive discussions with the player’s representatives and are preparing to launch a serious offer as they look to replace the struggling Rasmus Hojlund in their attack.”

Liverpool could be in danger of falling behind in the Ekitike transfer chase because Arsenal have also opened talks according to the report.

“Arsenal, too, have made contact with Ekitike’s camp, exploring the possibility of strengthening their forward options as Mikel Arteta eyes more depth in the final third,” it says.

© IMAGO

Liverpool's centre-forward alternatives

The Reds have had Ekitike in their sights since 2022, when he was playing with Reims. He opted to move to Paris Saint-Germain and things didn’t work out in the French capital.

However, Ekitike has got his career back on track in Germany and now looks set for the next step in his career. If Liverpool lose out on Ekitike then they could explore a deal for Jonathan David - now a free agent - as well as Joao Pedro of Brighton.