Liverpool interest in Chelsea top target makes €100m demands plausible | OneFootball

Last summer, Chelsea’s priority was signing a striker. As it turns out, they spent a lot of time pursuing difficult options, and ended up empty handed. That came back to bite them in the course of the season, as main option Nicolas Jackson found himself in bad form and then injured in a critical moment.

This time around they can’t let the same thing happen – but that means they need to be decisive. Their options are going to be removed from the table quickly. Liam Delap, who struck us as perhaps the number one choice given his age and fixed release clause, already looks closer to joining Manchester United. Victor Osimhen was too expensive last summer and now has major Saudi interest which will only drive his wage demands up further.

Liverpool swooping for Ekitike as Chelsea still try to get in order

Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring for Eintracht Frankfurt. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

The newest name on the list is Hugo Ekitike of Frankfurt, but even he looks to be drifting away.

Well known German insider Florian Plettenberg has today written that Liverpool are “now seriously in the race” for the former PSG striker. “Talks have taken place” with the Reds’ director of football Michael Edwards, and Arne Slot is “keen on” him. Chelsea are still their “biggest rival”, but it seems likely that Ekitike would head to the Premier League champions if given a straight choice.

Frankfurt make huge demands – and can back them up

Frankfurt director of football Markus Krosche will apparently ask for €100m for his star player, knowing he holds all the cards. The fact that Ekitike only signed permanently last summer and has a deal until 2029 means they can ask for whatever they like really.

It’s a huge sum for a team like Chelsea who are looking to lower their expenditure – but not impossible.