According to a 2022 report by L’Équipe, Messi affectionately dubbed Ekitike the “iron rod,” a nod to the striker’s slim but athletic build and his sudden bursts of accele

Liverpool are completing a move for Hugo Ekitike after they agreed a deal worth up to £79 million ($106m) with Eintracht Frankfurt, sources told ESPN.

Hugo Ekitiké is thought to have already agreed personal terms with Liverpool as his transfer nears its conclusion.

Liverpool famously vetoed the £53m signing of Nabil Fekir from Lyon back in June 2018 after becoming aware of a knee issue, once the Frenchman had carried out his medical. Therefore, if something similar occurs during Ekitike’s medical check, those at Anfield could well send him back to Frankfurt.

Liverpool are said to have reacted to Newcastle shutting the door on Isak talks by launching a bid for Ekitike, and Fabrizio Romano reports on Thursday morning that they are now ahead of the Magpies in the race to sign the French forward. The Reds expect to sign Ekitike if all hopes of an Isak deal end.

Liverpool is closing in on a deal to sign Hugo Ekitike and if the Reds' track record in the transfer market over the last 10 years is anything to go by, he will probably be a roaring success

Ekitike’s former youth coach Jean-Philippe, AKA ‘Nano’, spoke with GOAL in 2021 and explained some of the qualities he exuded as a young boy, which have continued into his playing career as an adult.