Jamie Carragher’s Liverpool transfer prediction coming true amid Reds’ big-spending summer

Liverpool are on the verge of clinching the signing of Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike after agreeing a £79m deal for the Frenchman – and his arrival would be a full circle moment after Jamie Carragher tipped him for a move to Anfield

Jamie Carragher’s prediction that Liverpool could sign Hugo Ekitike instead of Alexander Isak appears to be coming true as the Reds close in on a move for the Frankfurt striker.

Liverpool have shown they mean business in this transfer window after splashing out nearly £200m on signings so far – including £116.5m for Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz – and are preparing to sanction another huge fee on Ekitike.

Slot has made it a priority to bring in a top quality centre-forward who can add competition for places in attack and the club have been quick to wrap up a deal for the Frenchman amid interest from Newcastle.

Liverpool are now on the verge of clinching Ekitike’s signature after they agreed a package with Frankfurt worth around £69m with a further £10m in possible add-ons. The player is now set for a medical at Anfield ahead of becoming their latest big-name signing.

The Premier League champions had previously considered Newcastle striker Alexander Isak as a target before being put off his eye-watering asking price of up to £150m.

READ MORE: Liverpool dressing room sent clear message after Hugo Ekitike’s behaviour caused a stirREAD MORE: Alexander Isak’s agent breaks silence on transfer saga as Liverpool told ‘next step’ message

Liverpool legend Carragher previously suggested that Ekitike might actually be a better option for the club than Isak anyway as he was left impressed by his display when he scored against Tottenham in the Europa League back in April.

“There’s the lad at Eintracht Frankfurt who scored against Tottenham in the week, and I’m not going to try and pronounce his name!” the pundit said on the It’s Called Soccer podcast.

“Ekitike, that smacks to me as the type of player Liverpool would sign. I think he’s 22, and he’s at a club who you’d think would probably be a selling club. He’s done really well there.

“He went to PSG as a very young boy after sort of lighting up the French league as a young kid, and it didn’t quite work out for him. But he’s still really young.

“He’s got great numbers this season, and it almost looks to me as the type of player Liverpool would sign rather than maybe going for an Isak.”

In addition to Wirtz, Liverpool have signed full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively, while goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was signed on a free transfer.

Adding Ekitike to their collection of new recruits would be a serious statement of intent after he turned heads across Europe last season by netting 22 goals in all competitions.

Join our new WhatsApp communityand 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.