HUGO EKITIKE has agreed a six-year deal with Liverpool ahead of a move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
While the two clubs are still talking, the French striker, 23, has informed the Reds he wants a move to Anfield which is set to cost more than £70million.
GettyNewcastle have pulled out of negotiations for Hugo Ekitike[/caption]
That would see him choosing the champions over rivals Manchester United and Newcastle, who had both expressed an interest.
The Magpies saw an opening bid of a club-record £69.5m knocked back by Frankfurt this week.
And the Magpies have now backed down after Liverpool swooped in to steal their top target.
It is the latest twist in the champions’ high-profile pursuit of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.
Liverpool this week made contact with Toon chiefs over a potential British-record £120m swoop for the Swedish frontman.
Newcastle have maintained that Isak is not for sale, prompting Liverpool to pinch Ekitike instead.
Ekitike has an £86.5m release clause in his contract with Frankfurt but it is unclear whether the Reds will go that high.
A deal for Ekitike will take Arne Slot‘s summer spending close to £300m following their title win.
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But it is understood Liverpool returning with an offer for Isak, even after signing Ekitike, has not been ruled out.
Ekitike scored 15 goals and registered eight assists in his 33 Bundesliga appearances last season.
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Curse of Frankfurt means Ekitike is a huge risk at £86.5million
AT £86.5million, Hugo Ekitike would be a sizeable gamble for Liverpool, writes Joe Bryant.
That’s because Premier League clubs should be wary of the Frankfurt curse.
The Germans have a knack of selling strikers at a massive profit, only for them to struggle at their next club.
Luka Jovic (£52m), Sebastien Haller (£42m), Randall Kolo Muani (£77m) and Andre Silva (£20m) definitely fall into the category of transfers where you wished you had kept the receipt.
Omar Marmoush does seem to have broken the hoodoo at Manchester City, although it is still early days at the Etihad.
And Liverpool will need Ekitike to hit the ground running if they want to defend their Prem crown.
Having missed out on Ekitike, Newcastle could now turn their attention to Brentford‘s Yoane Wissa as the summer raid on the Bees continues.
The west Londoners have lost their manager in Thomas Frank and captain Christian Norgaard while Manchester United are chasing Bryan Mbeumo.
Any move for Wissa may hinge on whether United can land Mbeumo, having had two bids rejected so far as the Bees hold out for £65m.
Newcastle also want to land a centre-back and have not given up hope of a deal for Crystal Palace‘s Marc Guehi.
But they may find themselves in another battle with Liverpool for the England man with the Reds also strongly linked.
