logo
Liverpool 'make MAJOR breakthrough in Hugo Ekitike pursuit - as Frankfurt close in on club record sale' for former PSG star

Liverpool 'make MAJOR breakthrough in Hugo Ekitike pursuit - as Frankfurt close in on club record sale' for former PSG star

Daily Mail​20-07-2025
Liverpool have made a significant breakthrough in their pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
As reported by The Athletic, the Reds have reached an outline agreement with Frankfurt as they look to sign the highly-rated 23-year-old.
Liverpool are now working on finalising the deal, which could be concluded soon.
If all of the add-ons are met then it is anticipated that Ekitike could be a club-record sale for Frankfurt.
Frankfurt's current record sale is that of Randal Kolo Muani, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 for £64.2million plus £12.2million.
Ekitike was dropped from Eintracht Frankfurt's starting lineup for their friendly against FSV Frankfurt on Saturday amid speculation over his future.
Newcastle had an offer of £70million rejected for Ekitike, which fell £16million short of his release clause.
Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak but now seem focused on securing a deal for Ekitike, who has played for France at Under-21 level.
Last season Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 games for Frankfurt in all competitions, with 15 of those strikes coming in the Bundesliga.
He was also named in the Bundesliga team of the season following a hugely impressive campaign.
Ekitike was previously at PSG, initially on loan from Reims before joining permanently.
However, he only made 33 appearances for PSG in total and scored four goals.
Liverpool have already been heavily active in the transfer market this summer.
The Premier League champions brought in Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, while Milos Kerkez joined from Bournemouth.
Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid, while Jarell Quansah signed for Bayer Leverkusen.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Marathon man Wellbrock eyes 1,500 gold, Meilutyte fastest in 50 breaststroke
Marathon man Wellbrock eyes 1,500 gold, Meilutyte fastest in 50 breaststroke

Reuters

time15 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Marathon man Wellbrock eyes 1,500 gold, Meilutyte fastest in 50 breaststroke

Aug 2 (Reuters) - German iron man Florian Wellbrock will look to add to his bumper haul of gold medals from the world championships in Singapore after qualifying fastest for the 1,500 metres freestyle final on Saturday. The 27-year-old swept all before him in the open water programme last month, becoming the first swimmer to win all three individual events while helping Germany claim the team gold at Sentosa Island. Having moved to the pool, Wellbrock posted a time of 14:44.81 in the 1,500 to top a quality field including Tunisia's 800 champion Ahmed Jaouadi, who was 0.14 seconds behind. Bobby Finke, the American back-to-back Olympic champion, and Australian Sam Short will also be medal threats in a mouth-watering final on the final day of competition on Sunday. Defending champion Daniel Wiffen, Ireland's first male world medallist in swimming, was forced to withdraw from the event due to ongoing effects of appendicitis he suffered in June. In the women's 50 breaststroke, world record holder Ruta Meilutyte is eyeing back-to-back titles after finishing fastest in the heats. Thirteen years after winning the Olympic 100 gold at the London Games aged 15, the Lithuanian showed she is still a force in the shorter distance with a time of 29.82, the only sub-30 swim at the World Aquatics Championships Arena. Eastern Europe was well represented in the 50-metres events in the morning session, with Russian short course world record-holder Kliment Kolesnikov, competing as a neutral athlete, fastest in the backstroke heats with a time of 24.08. Russian athletes are allowed to take part in World Aquatics events under a neutral banner on condition they have not publicly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine and have no affiliation to the Russian military. South African Pieter Coetze, who was second quickest in 24.36, is bidding for a third backstroke medal of the meet after winning the 100 and taking silver in the 200. Paris Olympics silver medallist Meg Harris of Australia qualified fastest for the women's 50 freestyle semi-finals in a time of 24.32, 0.07 seconds ahead of Dutch sprinter Milou Van Wijk. Dutchwoman Marrit Steenbergen, who upset Mollie O'Callaghan on Friday to successfully defend her 100 freestyle title, also eased through. The U.S. qualified fastest (3:21.48) for the final of the non-Olympic mixed 4x100 freestyle relay ahead of France and the Netherlands. Australia were bundled out in the heats, though, in a shock for the swimming powerhouse which holds the world record and finished runner-up to China last year with a second-string team. Later on Saturday, American great Katie Ledecky and Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh will battle for the women's 800 freestyle gold in one of six titles on offer on the penultimate day of the meet. Australian Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown will look to add the 200 backstroke title to her 100 crown and deny American rival Regan Smith in the final once again.

Red Roses jostle for position as Lionesses hand on baton
Red Roses jostle for position as Lionesses hand on baton

BBC News

time15 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Red Roses jostle for position as Lionesses hand on baton

Rugby World Cup warm-up: England v SpainVenue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road Date: Saturday, 2 August Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC iPlayer and website with live text commentary on the website and app After training this week, the Red Roses have been practising a new three-part drill: a hop, a step and a Kelly's distinctive penalty technique doesn't work as well for everyone though."Some are better at it than others," smiles head coach John Mitchell at his players' attempts to copy the Euros-winning England footballer."The girls love mimicking those sorts of things. We'll probably have to put a stop on it as we don't want to do any hamstrings!"England face Spain on Saturday, just as Kelly and her team-mates did in last weekend's pressure will be some way short of shootout stress are ranked 13th in the world. They have lost their past three games - one Test against South Africa and two against Japan. Their last meeting with England was a 10-try 56-5 thrashing in the 2017 Rugby World Cup pool stages.A clutch of Las Leonas - Ealing Trailfinders prop Cristina Blanco, Sale Sharks back row Alba Capell and Harlequins back Claudia Pena - compete in the PWR. Fly-half Amalia Argudo is a key part of the Toulouse side that reached the Elite 1 final in France earlier this collectively, they will lack the quality and depth to offer significant resistance to the queenpins of the women's the competition for the Red Roses will mainly be 2024-25 English domestic season was condensed, with the final taking place three months earlier than usual, to maximise the Red Roses' preparation for the forthcoming Rugby World such, this warm-up against Spain marks two months since their first training camp. During that time they have been to the heat of Treviso and plumbed the depths of their stamina to find an extra the rest of the world, but also over each meeting with Spain gives players on the fringe of the 32-strong squad a chance to push towards the centre of Mitchell's Feaunati is in a potential tussle with Alex Matthews for the first-choice number eight shirt, while Marlie Packer and Abi Burton - at opposite ends of their Test careers - will be directly compared to Sadia Kabeya, who is poised on the bench. Zoe Harrison, in competition with Holly Aitchison, has a chance to cement her spot at 10. Lucy Packer, England's starting nine in their World Cup final defeat by New Zealand three years ago, is trying to unseat Natasha the front-row, there is Springbok-style strength in depth, with hooker May Campbell, joint-top try scorer in the PWR last season, Hannah Botterman and Maud Muir as the back-up to Kelsey Clifford, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah is intrigue on the wing as Jess Breach attempts to edge ahead of Claudia Moloney-McDonald and Helena Rowland, a sublimely skilled footballer still searching for a secure backline spot, and try her hand out Jade Shekells will attempt to barge into the midfield equation as she wins her third cap. Emma Sing has been excellent for Gloucester-Hartpury, but has the hardest task of all, keeping World Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne's full-back spot in the background, for all of them, is the canapes and tickertape have barely been cleared away from football's celebrations, but a baton has been passed. England will play France next weekend in their final warm-up and then the rehearsals are over.A Rugby World Cup opener against the United States awaits on 22 Packer, who captains the side against Spain, is setting her sights has won the World Cup in 2014, England's women footballers, preparing for a qualifier against Wales, came off the training pitch and sat down to cheer Packer and her team-mates - all amateurs - to a final win over time though a Red Roses victory, on home turf, as professionals, at a sold-out Allianz Stadium, would be many magnitudes bigger."It is our turn now, let's go and do it," said Packer."Like how the footballers have inspired us, we want to inspire them and the nation."We can define the way women's rugby is looked at by the way we play and how we want to be."Spain is where England iron out the small details needed to realise that big ambition.

Anthony Joshua teases surprise move into another sport amid Jake Paul showdown talks
Anthony Joshua teases surprise move into another sport amid Jake Paul showdown talks

The Independent

time44 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Anthony Joshua teases surprise move into another sport amid Jake Paul showdown talks

Anthony Joshua has taken to social media to make a plea to Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn over a business venture in a different sport. Since turning professional in 2013 Joshua has been attached to the Matchroom banner, a partnership that led to two-time world champion status for the 2012 Olympic gold medallist. Currently sidelined as he recovers from elbow surgery he underwent earlier this year, Joshua appears to be brainstorming ideas for life after boxing, suggesting to Hearn that they tackle football agency together. He posted on his Instagram story: 'Eddie Hearn, the family has conquered darts, snooker, pool, boxing, fishing, golf, owning a football club & you've had a presence in basketball, netball & gymnastics. 'I believe 'we' could look at the football agency industry and have a strong presence. 'Imagine we help manager the player who helped England win the World Cup. 'Call me tomorrow mate.' Eddie Hearn's father, founder of Matchroom Barry Hearn, owned English Football League club Leyton Orient for the best part of two decades, but that is the limit of the family's direct involvement in the sport. However, Matchroom's success across a variety of sports would give them instant authority in the world of football. There has been some overlap with football agencies and promotions in the past, with one of the biggest companies in soccer, Wasserman, buying Team Sauerland and creating Wasserman Boxing in 2021. In May, Joshua confirmed that he was exploring the possibility of buying shares in hometown football club Watford. The Hornets have bounced between the Premier League and Championship over the past 20 years, but whilst Joshua is fond of the club, it appeared to be more of a financial decision. He told Seconds Out: "We wanted to move into private equity, venture capital funds. As you earn, naturally, you want to save. "So rather than me spending recklessly I'm trying to invest money into certain asset classes and that was an opportunity that presented itself. 'Nothing's come of it yet. It's a serious investment. If it comes off it's one that should do well. 'If they went back to the Premier League, then I'd need to get a shop on Market Street because the traffic that would be coming through Watford would be phenomenal. 'If we don't do it then good luck to them anyway because they're a great team." Speculation has surrounded Joshua in recent days, with rumours about his next opponent. Latest Queensberry recruit Tony Yoka is one mooted option, but Jake Paul's camp have claimed that talks with Matchroom have started regarding a potential bout between their fighter and Joshua. DAZN Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store