Liverpool have opportunity to take €70m Richard Hughes favourite from PSG
Ekitike, 23, will come in from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m - representing a new option for Arne Slot up top instead of current incumbent Darwin Nunez.
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But after that deal is done, Liverpool will STILL have transfer business to attend to. There is considerable uncertainty over the Reds' centre-back options.
Jarell Quansah has been sold to Bayer Leverkusen - opening up a space in Slot's backline.
There have been several young centre-backs named as potential incomings - including Jorrel Hato and Joel Ordonez as sporting director Richard Hughes sorts out plans for the future.
Liverpool need a senior centre-back if Konate leaves
But the fate of one of Liverpool's other central defenders is also very much unknown.
And if Ibrahima Konate leaves, Liverpool will require an immediate starter rather than a project player who will come into his own over the next couple of seasons.
That's why the links with Marc Guehi make sense. The 25-year-old Crystal Palace captain is an experienced England international with proven Premier League quality.
But the trail appears to have gone cold on Guehi in recent days - as the Ekitike deal loomed into focus.
Zabarnyi's PSG deal breaks down
The Reds have also got their eye on other proven, established top-flight campaigners though. And they could take advantage of a breakdown in Bournemouth's negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over Illia Zabarnyi.
The 22-year-old Ukrainian has become one of the best defenders in the league having signed from Dynamo Kyiv back in January 2023.
But he's handed the Cherries a transfer request in the hope of pushing through a deal to the European champions this summer.
According to a new report in Caught Offside, PSG and Bournemouth remain apart in their valuation of Zabarnyi.
© IMAGO - Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
Can Liverpool pounce on Zabarnyi?
With Bournemouth holding out for €70m, the French side have been reluctant to go past the €60m mark thus far. And although Zabarnyi's preference is PSG, Liverpool - and other suitors including Tottenham - have a chance to swoop in and do a deal.
'Liverpool are reportedly considering him as a possible replacement for Ibrahima Konaté,' the report reads. But it adds: 'the player remains focused on PSG and is not actively engaging in talks with other clubs.'
The report also states that Spurs ARE willing to go up to €70m for Zabarnyi - as they consider replacements for the potentially outbound Cristian Romero.
The Konate conundrum certainly presents a headache for Richard Hughes this summer but it might present him with the opportunity to move for an old favourite.
Hughes of course was Bournemouth's technical director when a deal for Zabarnyi was wrapped up - more evidence if it was needed of his prowess in the transfer market.
**👉 **Liverpool set to increase transfer budget by £200m 🔗
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