Liverpool make the “next Mbappe” a key target

Liverpool are gearing up for the imminent exit of Jarell Quansah, who will sign for Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35m after returning from the U21 European Championship with England, triumphant.

Nothing’s set in stone, but the anticipation is that Harvey Elliott will follow suit, coveted by a host of outfits both at home and abroad after his peripheral season under Arne Slot’s wing. The 22-year-old led the Young Lions’ charge and will fetch a pretty penny.

If and when both players part ways with the Anfield side, FSG will have banked just shy of £100m from player sales, offsetting somewhat the vast expenditure that has already been overseen this summer, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz the staple signings of a summer still in the making.

Darwin Nunez is still to be sold, the Uruguayan striker the heart of negotiations between Liverpool and Napoli. The two outfits want to get the deal done but reportedly sit far apart on agreeing on a price.

A slew of potential replacements have been bandied about, but there’s little question that Liverpool want Alexander Isak above all others.

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

Mohamed Salah was the only man to outscore Isak in the Premier League last season, and if that doesn’t underscore Liverpool’s interest, what will?

The problem is that Newcastle United know they have one of the world’s best strikers in their mix and have allegedly priced him at £200m.

The latest on Liverpool’s end is that a July bid should not be discounted, but it’s going to be a very tricky one to complete.

Indeed, signing him would drive Liverpool above the £400m mark, which is quite a startling thing to think about. As such, it’s no surprise that Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been tasked with capturing an alternative, one who would allow for the centre-back signing Liverpool still desire, Marc Guehi at the top of the list.

Isak is a “world-class” player, as said by pundit Alan Shearer, but he’s not the only talented number nine on the block.

Liverpool make Isak alternative a priority

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool have shortlisted Hugo Ekitike alongside Isak, with the Eintracht Frankfurt’s star singled out as being “very high on the list” of targets at Anfield.

The French forward, 23, has risen to prominence over the past year and has attracted the attention of every Tom, Dick, and Harry, although Die Adler are very much aware of this and have listed him at €100m (£85m) to ward off the rabble.

However, Liverpool need a centre-forward and appear keen on advancing their interest, especially as he’s dynamic, young and far cheaper than Isak.

For what it’s worth, Frankfurt are adamant that they aren’t negotiating with interested parties, at least until August, and that more concrete movements won’t occur for at least a month.

How Hugo Ekitike stacks up compared to Isak

Liverpool like to wrap up their summer business nice and early, but perhaps FSG would be willing to wait in the case of Ekitike, having placed him at the top of their list and conducted the lion’s share of their spending already.

Having finished his first full season in Germany, Ekitike has established himself as “one of the best strikers out there”, according to analyst Ben Mattinson, scorer of 22 goals and placer of 12 assists across all competitions.

He didn’t match Isak’s 27-goal haul, but the 23-year-old is undoubtedly emerging as a focal presence who could play the role Liverpool envisage for the Sweden striker.

Described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, Ekitike is a relentless ball striker, but he’s also a silky and seamless dribbler, a creative partner for his teammates. Apt for a high-pressing team, Liverpool would surely raise their game with him in the ranks, especially when considering the current crop who would elevate the player’s game higher still.

And when peering at Ekitike and Isak’s metrics across the past campaign, it can be noted that Frankfurt’s man produces slightly more dynamic playmaking performances, and he’s more active in carrying the ball himself too.

Moreover, he’s a more commanding aerial presence. This is less important than in years past, Slot opting against the cross-heavy style of Jurgen Klopp, and especially so now that Trent Alexander-Arnold has signed for Real Madrid, but it still adds an important dimension.

We can nitpick who ranked higher than who across the past 12 months, but there are some caveats that are worth noting: namely, Isak plies his trade in the Premier League, widely regarded as a tougher division than the Bundesliga.

Isak’s slight inferiority in ball-carrying numbers also owes to his drop-back duties in Eddie Howe’s squad, influencing from deeper and progressing play forward with stroked passes and off-the-ball movements.

What does matter is Isak has been drawn by FBref as one of Ekitike’s most comparable players, indicating a stylistic approach that could see the France talent dovetail into Slot’s system, for Isak has been comprehensively profiled and would be the perfect fit.

But given the exorbitant price demands Newcastle have placed on the table, it surely makes more sense to go for the younger man, who has been praised for his “incredible” quality by teammate Rasmus Kristensen.

Though an uncut gem, Ekitike is still a jewel who could sit at the front of the Liverpool crown for many years to come, combining with Wirtz, Salah and the like. He’s the real deal, and do Liverpool not like to take exciting talents and shape them into something refined and world-class?

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