Dave Hendrick Sees Shades of Legendary Striker in Liverpool Target Hugo Ekitike | OneFootball

Why Hugo Ekitike Makes Sense for Liverpool – If You Remove the Isak Factor

In his latest Daily Red podcast, Dave Hendrick provided a detailed dissection of Liverpool’s ongoing pursuit of Hugo Ekitike. Although “the Ekitike bid, if there was one, was declined,” Hendrick made clear that Liverpool are still firmly in the mix. According to him, “maybe we’ve gotten to a point where he has made the club very aware that he’s not willing to go anywhere else,” suggesting a potential advantage in negotiations.

The move, as Hendrick put it, likely involves “quite a bit of it in add-ons – the similar thing that we did with Darwin,” a strategy that helps reduce upfront risk. Yet, the standout point of his monologue was this: “The more you watch him, the more you think about how he could fit, the more it does make sense if you eliminate the Isak factor.”

Striker comparisons: Benzema over Isak?

Liverpool’s top target this summer was long believed to be Alexander Isak, with Julian Alvarez also mentioned. Hendrick was clear: “Isak or Alvarez, anything else is a step down. Simple as that.” But when viewing Ekitike on his own terms, not as an Isak alternative, Hendrick found compelling value.

“He’s far away from the finished product… that’s kind of exciting as well,” said Hendrick. While Ekitike’s finishing “is not great” and he “misses a lot of good chances,” Hendrick argued the issues are more nuanced. “When others have created [chances] for him, the finishing does kick on.”

It is Ekitike’s stylistic qualities that sparked the most thoughtful comparison. “There’s a lot of Karim Benzema about him. And Benzema is his idol.” Hendrick even asked, “If he was six foot flat and not 6’4, would that be the comp that people would make more frequently rather than the Isak comp?”

In fact, Hendrick made a convincing case for seeing Ekitike in the Benzema mould, noting “the dribbling ability… the passing, the layoff play is again more Benzema than Isak.”

Slot’s tactical balance and Ekitike’s role

A key reason for the Ekitike pursuit appears to be Liverpool’s long-term planning. With Mo Salah still at the club but not expected to carry the load forever, the need for a transitional striker is clear.

“We’re not asking him to come into Liverpool and be the main guy,” Hendrick explained. “We’re giving him the opportunity to come in and play in that shadow of Mo Salah.” That breathing space could be vital for Ekitike to develop, just as Benzema thrived “in the shadow of Cristiano.”

Hendrick emphasised Ekitike’s strengths beyond scoring: “One thing he’s really good at is manipulating space, dropping off, taking up the ball, bringing a centre-back with him, and then immediately finding his pass or beating that defender in a dribble.”

That facilitative role could complement established stars. “If we sign Rodrygo to play on the left… we’re looking more for him to get 15 and 12 to 15 assists… to move centre-backs around and create space for Mo and Rodrygo.”

Price, potential and Isak’s uncertain future

Despite the excitement, Hendrick acknowledged some reservations. “My biggest gripes are the price, my concerns over Eintracht Voodoo, and the fact that you were making the comparison to Isak.”

Yet, there remains a lingering curiosity over Isak’s future. “It’s really odd that nobody has come out and just ended the Isak speculation,” Hendrick noted, adding that “I remain convinced that the reason Newcastle were going to buy [Ekitike] was because they had accepted they were going to sell Alexander Isak.”

As things stand, Liverpool’s approach appears pragmatic. A potential deal for both Isak and Ekitike was dismissed by Hendrick as “a horrible fit together.” Instead, he sees value in focusing on one or the other. “If Newcastle turned around tomorrow and said… the smart thing is for us to sell him [Isak] to buy Ekitike… I think we immediately pivot and go and buy Isak and just take him.”

But until then, Ekitike’s combination of stylistic resemblance to Benzema, willingness to join, and growth potential makes him a viable next step in Liverpool’s attack.