Liverpool beat Newcastle United to land Ekitike on six-year deal
A bid is in the process of being formalised, with talks advanced for the 23-year-old who is now expected to join the Premier League champions and take Liverpool 's summer spending beyond the £250 million mark.
Ekitike has an £86.5 million release clause, although Liverpool hope to secure him for less. It remains to be seen if the German club will hold firm and insist upon Liverpool paying the full release clause. Crucially, Ekitike has informed his club that he wants to move to Anfield to sign a six-year contract.
This follows Premier League interest from Newcastle United, whose earlier offers were rejected and have conceded defeat in their pursuit of the France Under-21 international. It is understood Manchester United were also keen on Ekitike, but once Liverpool showed their hand negotiations have accelerated to take him to Anfield. The club want him on board as soon as possible as they prepare to head to Asia on pre-season tour next week.
Liverpool have been searching for an upgrade on Darwin Nunez for 12 months, scouting various options and ready to move based on the availability of key targets.
Newcastle United 's Alexander Isak was among those high on the wanted list, but his price tag in excess of £120 million – and the prospect of a long, drawn-out negotiation – has evidently led Liverpool to alternatives.
Ekitike has been scouted for a prolonged period and fits the usual recruitment profile of a young player who was highly regarded at youth level, earned a move to a big club when he joined Paris St-Germain, but has demonstrated his pedigree after dropping down a level, excelling in the Bundesliga and Europa League for Frankfurt.
He will be the third major Anfield deal from German football, following Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong who joined from Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool also signed left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.
Liverpool anticipate there will be outgoings to fund their latest purchase, with Nunez's Anfield prospects the bleakest. The Uruguayan has attracted attention from Italy and Saudi Arabia so far, with the club hoping to raise at least £70 million from his sale.
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