Liverpool may have lifted the Premier League trophy last season, but the red machine still has one cog they’re trying to fix: the No. 9 role. And it looks like the Merseyside club has narrowed its gaze on two names — Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Arne Slot’s men got their pre-season underway in a friendly at Preston North End, with more emotion than excitement.
The match came days after the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota, whose absence was deeply felt. As tributes poured in, Liverpool quietly gave minutes to their latest recruits, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.
But behind the scenes, the gears are turning toward more attacking firepower.
Despite last season’s success, Liverpool are fully aware they need to sharpen their spearhead. Their transfer team, led by sporting director Richard Hughes, is now fully focused on bringing in a top-level striker.
So, what’s the plan? Two forwards have emerged as key targets: Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
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Why Liverpool wants to sign a new Striker?
Let’s be honest — Darwin Nunez hasn’t quite turned into the beast Liverpool fans hoped for.
While his work rate and passion are unquestionable, the numbers tell a different story: just seven goals in 47 matches across all competitions last season. That’s not enough for a team aiming to stay at the top of the English game.
Slot often chose Luis Diaz as a false nine over Nunez, a tactical shift that seemed to pay off in certain matches.
But it’s not a long-term solution. And with serious interest from Napoli and Saudi clubs, Nunez’s future looks increasingly cloudy.
If Liverpool can cash in for around £60 million, a reinvestment into a proven striker seems almost inevitable.
One name that continues to pop up is Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker was in red-hot form last season, scoring 23 goals in the Premier League for Newcastle.
He’s quick, clinical, and already knows how to handle Premier League defenders — what more could you want?
But there’s a catch. Newcastle want to keep Isak and are actually working to add another striker — Hugo Ekitike — to partner him, not replace him (via Sky Sports News).
That brings us to Ekitike himself.
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Ekitike: The wildcard in Liverpool’s striker hunt
Ekitike was electric in Germany last season. The 23-year-old banged in 22 goals and added 12 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt, helping them qualify for the Champions League.
That kind of output has sparked interest from not just Liverpool but also Chelsea and Manchester United.
Newcastle, though, are pushing hard to bring him in. According to multiple reports, they’ve submitted a big-money bid — reportedly over €70 million — to land the France U21 international. His release clause is €100 million, so there’s still some negotiating left to do.
And here’s where it gets interesting for Liverpool: if Newcastle signs Ekitike, would they be forced to sell Isak to stay within the league’s financial fair play rules?
According to The Athletic, holding onto both forwards and complying with spending regulations could become tricky. But manager Eddie Howe insists he wants both players in his squad.
That could either kill Liverpool’s hopes or kick-start negotiations. Because if Newcastle needs to sell one big name to fund another, Liverpool may get their striker after all.
Of course, there are other names on the Reds’ shortlist — Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres, have been considered. But Hughes appears to have a clear preference for a striker who fits Slot’s fluid 4-2-3-1 system. Ekitike and Isak tick those boxes.
In typical transfer window fashion, everything now hinges on dominoes falling in the right direction.
Will Ekitike land at St. James’ Park? Will Newcastle cash in on Isak? Will Liverpool finally solve the riddle of the central striker?
For now, all roads point to a summer of suspense at Anfield — and possibly a new No. 9 to lead the line.
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