Latest news with #Slot
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Hugo Ekitike set to 'follow Arne Slot's orders' at Liverpool over non-negotiable
Liverpool have agreed a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike, and the Frenchman seems set to fulfil the demands that manager Arne Slot places on his centre forwards Liverpool are close to completing the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, who knows what's expected of him at Anfield. The Reds have targeted a new front man in their bid to retain the Premier League title. Arne Slot's side have already made several eye-catching moves in the transfer window. Florian Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen as the club's record signing in a move worth up to £116million earlier this summer. Liverpool have also snapped up right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen, brought in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez and welcomed goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia. However, the arrival of Ekitike, who is set to undergo a medical on Tuesday, would solve a key issue that the Liverpool manager has seemingly been keen to address. The Athletic reports that playing as a centre forward for Slot means having to work hard off the ball, with Ekitike demonstrating his willingness to follow similar instructions out of possession in his time at Frankfurt. That non-negotiable, in terms of being a proper team player from up top, is something Slot has looked for in the market. And it is reported that Ekitike will follow those orders while helping team-mates offer a regular threat in the box via his intelligent movement. The 23-year-old scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists in 48 appearances for Frankfurt as the German side finished third in the Bundesliga and reached the Europa League quarter-finals. Liverpool have agreed an initial £69m fee plus a possible £10m in add-ons for the Frenchman. The transfer represents a significant profit for Frankfurt, who opted to make Ekitike's loan from PSG permanent for approximately £14.3m (€16.5m) in April 2024. As the Premier League champions have been targeting a young striker who will be a long-term focal point for the team, Ekitike fits the club's criteria ahead of signing a six-year deal. Liverpool boss Slot opted against relying on Darwin Nunez for much of the team's title-winning campaign, with the Uruguayan only being handed eight league starts. Nunez had been heavily linked with a move to Napoli but the Italian club have signed Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca, leaving the Liverpool star's next steps in doubt. Slot reaffirmed the importance of a striker's work-rate in his criticism of Nunez's reaction to a missed chance against Aston Villa in February. 'I can accept every miss, especially from a player that has scored two very important goals against Brentford, that scores for us in the home game against Villa,' Slot said. 'That I can accept but what was a bit harder for me to accept was his behaviour after that chance. 'With behaviour, I mean, I think it got too much in his head, where he wasn't the usual Darwin that works his a** off and makes sure he helps the team. I think he was too disappointed after missing that chance and maybe – we will never know, we will never find out – that's why he was just a fraction short the moment afterwards.' Liverpool's determination to find the right striker to improve the team was shown by their interest in Newcastle United star Alexander Isak. The Reds were reportedly willing to pay up to £120m for Isak, but Newcastle insist the forward is not for sale. Meanwhile, Liverpool have stood firm in terms of their own outgoings. Last week, the club rejected a £58m (€67.5m) bid for Luis Diaz from Bayern Munich. It is claimed that the winger wants to leave Liverpool but the club have no intention of cashing in on the Colombia international. He is currently part of Liverpool's squad for their pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Japan.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
What persuaded Hugo Ekitike to join Liverpool after Arne Slot promise during phonecall
Liverpool are on the verge of signing striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79million and Reds boss Arne Slot played a key role in persuading the player to join Hugo Ekitike is closing in on a £79million move to Liverpool, having been persuaded to join the club after holding talks with manager Arne Slot. Ekitike is set to become Liverpool's seventh new signing this summer, with the Reds agreeing to pay £69m up front plus £10m in add-ons. The 23-year-old will lead the line for Liverpool next season, with Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller admitting his exit is a "bitter loss" after Ekitike was omitted for their pre-season friendly against FSV Frankfurt on Saturday. "He didn't play, but you can imagine everything else," Toppmoller said. "This is a bitter loss. We lost our absolute top player in the winter with Omar Marmoush. The other player stepped in and developed sensationally. It's quite possible that that's history, too. So I think we need to temper expectations a bit overall." Newcastle were also interested in Ekitike, but abandoned their pursuit after the forward made it clear that he only wanted to join Liverpool. And ESPN are reporting that it was Slot who persuaded Ekitike that Anfield was the right destination for him. The report states that Slot spoke with the player over Zoom and explained how Ekitike fit into his plans, with the Dutchman keen to sign a 'mobile and dynamic No.9 who could combine brilliance on the ball with tenacity and intelligence off it'. It is claimed that Ekitike felt he was the 'perfect fit' after speaking with the Liverpool boss and the report quotes a source as saying Slot pulled off a "masterclass". It adds that there were some concerns over whether the player was ready to make another big move. Ekitike joined Paris Saint-Germain from Reims three years ago and struggled to make much of an impact, but he has resurrected his career at Frankfurt and it is claimed Liverpool are confident that he is ready to make the step-up. Liverpool have spent big this summer as they look to build on a successful first season under Slot which saw them win the Premier League. They have also signed Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman. Liverpool also secured the futures of captain Virgil van Dijk and star man Mohamed Salah earlier this year, with the pair both signing new deals, although they were unable to persuade Trent Alexander-Arnold to stay. However, Liverpool are confident that their summer business will ensure they remain competitive for years to come, with each new addition aside from Woodman under the age of 25.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool forward closer to Napoli move
The tour gives Slot a chance to assess his options ahead of the new campaign - with the head coach also having to integrate several new signings. He will be trying to work out formations that can include the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and - once confirmed - Hugo Ekitike. And we could end up seeing certain Liverpool players have their tour of Asia cut short in order to wrap out some outgoing deals. Chiesa NOT on Asian tour Chief among them are Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz - who could generate plenty of transfer income should Liverpool decide to part ways. One player however who HASN'T made the trip is . The Italian winger played and scored in Sunday's friendly win against Stoke City but will not feature on tour. He is out of the tour with a 'minor fitness issue' according to a report in the Athletic but his omission could spell the end of his short, unhappy spell at Liverpool. At least that is how the Italian media sees it, with Tuttosport describing his departure as a 'foregone conclusion' now that he's been left out. Napoli back in for Chiesa 'This is a clear sign for Chiesa, who is increasingly marginalized from Liverpool's coaching plans and ever closer to leaving the English club,' the report reads. Indeed, the same report suggests that Chiesa could now come back on the radar of Napoli - the Italian champions with a long-standing interest in the winger. Having signed Noa Lang from PSV and Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese, head coach Antonio Conte is still intending to improve his attacking options. Can Liverpool get their money back on Chiesa? A move for Bologna star Dan Ndoye has been complicated by Nottingham Forest's interest as well as the Swiss suffering an injury in pre-season. So the Partenopei could be enticed back to the table for Chiesa. 'Watch out for Napoli, who have long shown interest in the Italian winger and could make a move,' the report concludes. Liverpool signed Chiesa from Juventus last September for a fee that could reach £12.5m. The 27-year-old is under contract until 2028 - meaning the Reds should be able to get most of their money back on a sale. Wages could prove a sticking point however with Chiesa earning a reported £120k per week and Italian sides so far unwilling or unable to match those demands. **👉 **Liverpool set to increase transfer budget by £200m 🔗
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Arne Slot 'used Florian Wirtz approach' to convince Hugo Ekitike to join Liverpool
Liverpool have won the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike after Arne Slot went on a charm offensive to bring the Frenchman to Anfield amid competition from Newcastle Liverpool boss Arne Slot managed to win Hugo Ekitike over by telling the forward exactly how he would fit into his tactical set-up at Anfield on a video call. The Reds have won the race to snap up the in-demand Eintracht Frankfurt star despite competition from Newcastle. The Premier League champions have agreed a total package amount to around £82million. It is yet another huge outlay on a player from the Bundesliga after sealing a British transfer record move for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, who was also impressed by Slot's approach. But Liverpool showed how serious they were about signing a new striker after approaching Frankfurt and committing towards a huge fee after Newcastle had a £70m bid rejected. Ekitike will be joining a star-studded team that has just won the title but L'Equipe has detailed how Slot attempted to convince the Frenchman to join Liverpool on a video call, presenting how he would help the team in his high press. He also explained to Ekitike how he would factor into the team's style of play while they are in possession and the possibility of him dropping deeper to get the ball - with the player "seduced" by Slot's extensive analysis. It is claimed Slot specifically referenced his 4-2-3-1 formation and how would he fit in as the focal point of the system. The Kop boss explained how he sees Ekitike being pivotal to the evolution of their style, with a more creative and mobile number nine. The Dutchman pulled off a similar persuasion technique to land Wirtz last month for a huge £116.5m despite huge interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City. His father Hans-Joachim revealed the lengths Slot went to to convince Wirtz as he used a similar ploy to the one he adopted for Ekitike, informing the player of how he would be involved in their tactical set up and how he could improve his game with the team. " Arne Slot has impressed Florian on the pitch," he said. "He's also a very pleasant person. Florian's best coaches have always been those who gave him plenty of freedom. "And those with the greatest empathy have also reached Florian. "He finds the game in England interesting because it thrives on pace and dynamism. "Arne Slot presented his playing philosophy, the team tactics in possession and pressing, and how Florian can develop his strengths in these areas. "This made a decisive impression on Florian. The training conditions in Liverpool were also totally impressive." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Liverpool set to announce Hugo Ekitike THIS WEEK after agreeing £79m transfer with Frankfurt
HUGO EKITIKE is expected to be confirmed as Arne Slot's latest signing this week after a £79million deal was agreed with Eintracht Frankfurt. The arrival of the France striker, 23, will take Advertisement 2 Hugo Ekitike will join Liverpool this week in a £79million deal Credit: Getty Any doubt the frontman would not be moving to Anfield was killed when Eintracht boss Dino Toppmoller left Toppmoller, 44, said: 'He didn't play but you can imagine everything else. It is a bitter loss. We lost our absolute top player in the winter with Omar Marmoush. 'The other player stepped in and developed sensationally. It's quite possible that that's history, too.' Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Former Paris Saint-Germain player Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 games last season to help Frankfurt qualify for the Champions League. He arrives at Anfield for a £69m initial fee plus £10m in add-ons. Liverpool moved for Ekitike after accepting that Newcastle would not budge on their £150m valuation of top target Alexander Isak — with the Reds only prepared to go to a maximum of £120m. Slot and his squad flew to Hong Kong last night after a behind-closed-doors friendly with Stoke and will play AC Milan on Saturday. Advertisement Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Ekitike could link up with his new team-mates before the game against Yokohama F Marinos in Japan on July 30. Liverpool plan on recouping a big chunk of this summer's spectacular cash splurge — having already paid Bayer Leverkusen £100m for playmaker Florian Wirtz and a further £101m on Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Armin Pecsi, plus freebie Freddie Woodman. Where Liverpool's Ekitike talks leave Isak and Newcastle | Transfers Exposed 2 Advertisement One of the most prominent sales could be that of winger Luis Diaz — the subject of a £58.6m bid by Bayern Munich. That was rejected but the Bundesliga giants will return with an offer over £60m, the Colombia forward revealing that his representatives are talking with other clubs and hinting he is open to leaving. Darwin Nunez is a £65m target of Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal and will be sold to the highest bidder. He scored a hat-trick against the Potters before the squad flew out, with Wirtz playing in the first half. Advertisement Harvey Elliott, either Kostas Tsimikas or Andy Robertson, plus Ibrahima Konate and Federico Chiesa are all names in Slot's out tray to help balance the books.
