Liverpool’s €95 million gamble: Are they overpaying for Hugo Ekitike?

Dubai: Liverpool are definitely overpaying for Hugo Ekitike. They are paying €95 million to the German club Eintracht Frankfurt, who signed him for just €17.5 million a year ago from PSG. The French striker isn’t even an international player yet and has had just one good season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

Liverpool enquired about Alexander Isak’s availability, but Newcastle aren’t ready to sell. Ironically, Newcastle were tracking Ekitike themselves before Liverpool swooped in.

It’s a risky signing and Liverpool are definitely overpaying for a striker with limited overall experience. The last big-money striker signing of Darwin Nunez didn’t work out as they wished, another £85 million lesson that seems to have been forgotten. They are actively looking to sell him this summer, but he has impressed in the pre-season game by scoring a hat-trick. Will that result in a change of mind?

Balanced squad

Liverpool are hoping Ekitike can gel within a squad that’s already balanced with a solid spine in place. The likes of Alisson, Van Dijk, Mac Allister and Salah remain, while new signing Florian Wirtz will help create chances. However, Wirtz also needs a settling period after his record-breaking move. Ekitike is undeniably talented and has experience playing on the left wing as well. The lad is tall but technically sound, capable of carrying the ball efficiently. At Frankfurt, he was mostly a counter-attacking threat. Here, he’ll need to adapt to a settled possession team focused on breaking down stubborn defences, which is a completely different challenge.

However, he had many touches in the box last season and shots attempted, which is an encouraging sign. This is a huge gamble, but the striker market is painfully thin. The only other world-class option available apart from Isak was Victor Osimhen, but he’s joining Galatasaray for €75 million. Yes, it’s less money comparatively, but Osimhen’s salary demands were astronomical. From all available options, Ekitike looks like someone with huge potential.

Expensive Frankfurt exports

Eintracht Frankfurt are shrewd sellers, especially when it comes to strikers. They’ve previously sold Kolo Muani, Omar Marmoush, Luka Jovic, and Sebastien Haller, all for massive profit. While Marmoush has started well at City, many of their former strikers couldn’t live up to their hefty price tags elsewhere. Can Ekitike change the fate of Frankfurt’s expensive exports?

Liverpool are taking a massive gamble, but fans will have to trust that Michael Edwards and Mark Hughes have got this one right. Remember, Isak came to the Premier League from Real Sociedad not being prolific but someone with potential, and now he has become world-class. But the pressure at Newcastle and Liverpool is different. Can the 23-year-old young French striker thrive under pressure? We’ll have to wait and see.