Revealed: How Liverpool boss Arne Slot 'convinced Hugo Ekitike to join Liverpool during video call', ahead of £80m move
Ekitike, 23, is nearing an £80million move to Merseyside as the Reds seek to bolster their attacking options ahead of the upcoming season.
As the transfer inches closer to being a done deal, details have emerged of a video call that allegedly took place between Slot and Ekitike.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, published on Monday morning, Slot was claimed to have discussed how the striker would fit into his plans at Anfield.
The post cited an article from French publication L'Equipe, which stated: 'In Arne Slot's video call with Hugo Ekitike, the idea of a 4-2-3-1 is presented to the player.
'Slot discusses an evolution in the Reds' game plan, including possession sequences.
The call was claimed to have occurred in a post uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday morning
'In this context, he also needs a creative, mobile number nine capable of combining, pushing forward, and also playing deep.
'Ekitike emerged from this exchange seduced.'
The France U21 international wants to move to the Premier League champions - which saw Newcastle United pull out of the race to sign him after their £70million offer was turned down.
It was indicated last Thursday that Liverpool were ready to bid for Etikite and they have been in discussions with the Bundesliga club over the structure and amount they are willing to pay.
Etikite has an £86million release clause and it remains to be seen how close they will get to that figure.
Newcastle's own failure to land the Frenchman comes after Liverpool made an approach for their star striker Alexander Isak.
The Athletic reported last week that Liverpool had not made a formal offer and remain 'well aware' of the Magpies' stance that their star man is not for sale.
However, speculation was rife around his future at St. James' Park after he was let out of Newcastle's squad for their opening pre-season friendly - a 4-0 loss against Celtic on Saturday.
Magpies boss Eddie Howe explained the Swede's absence from the squad after the match
But Magpies coach Eddie Howe was quick to address the situation after his side's defeat at Parkhead.
He said: 'I chose to send him home. The last thing Alex wants if he is not playing is to be sat in the stand and under that scrutiny, then if he wasn't going to play today, we mutually agreed he shouldn't be here.
'It was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. Both [Joelinton and Isak] are fit but not ready to play. Alex has trained and is fine but we didn't want to take the risk with him.
'Yes, I've had discussions with him, but that's not abnormal,' he added. 'I respect a player's career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he's trained really well and I realise there'll be noise around him.
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