Liverpool supporters are awaiting finalisation of another big transfer in the early days of this week.
The Reds have been busy throughout the summer, and are set to continue that with the addition of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ekitike is on the verge of joining Liverpool after the Reds and Eintracht agreed on a fee that could reportedly reach up to £82m.
It is an enormous price to pay on a player who has, in essence, had only one objectively prolific season. And while Liverpool fans are happy with Ekitike, not everyone is on the same page.
Hugo Ekitike’s PSG spell leaves doubts
Ekitike bounced back brilliantly at Eintracht having been marginalised during his time with Paris Saint Germain.
But, speaking to ESPN FC on Sunday, France World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf says the spell in Paris has left him with doubts over whether Ekitike can step up to the Premier League.
“I’m happy for Hugo, for sure, I really hope he’s going to serve Liverpool in the best way and be good enough according to the price that’s been paid. But allow me to have some doubts,” Leboeuf said.
“I saw him playing for Paris Saint Germain. It was complicated because there was Messi, Neymar and Mbappe at that time. But he’s only been good a year. That price puts a lot of pressure on his shoulders, so wait and see. He’s been fantastic and tremendous last year, but Liverpool, Premier League, that’s a different story.”
Sitting in the studio listening to Leboeuf, former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol felt the need to jump to Ekitike’s defence.
“That’s a little harsh Frank,” Nicol interjected. “Just because you signed a player that doesn’t work out, why should that stop you signing another player? It’s not like players in the Bundesliga don’t have a history of scoring in the Premier League. Son Heung-min, [Erling] Haaland came from the Bundesliga, Bobby Firmino at Liverpool.”
READ MORE: Verdict delivered on whether Hugo Ekitike will join Liverpool’s pre-season tour to Asia
“The guy’s 23 years old, if, like [Darwin] Nunez, Ekitike doesn’t pan out, Liverpool are still going to get a big chunk of that money back.
“He’s absolutely one of the top strikers in the world right now so you’ve got to pay the going rate,” Nicol continued. “I’ve been racking my brains trying to figure out what this guy can’t do. I can’t find a thing he needs to work on. He’s got every single thing.”
“I’m sorry to cut you off but you say I’m being harsh, I’m saying just wait and see,” Leboeuf hit back. “That’s all I said. He had a tremendous season last season, but I saw him before at Paris Saint Germain and, I’m sorry, we saw before players coming from the Bundesliga, having a hard time in the Premier League. So, I have the right to be doubtful about the fact he can settle down.”
Ekitike may need time to settle at Liverpool
It is possible that both of these pundits are right on this occasion. While Ekitike is a very good prospect, and may even hit the ground running straight away, there is also some reason to be sceptical over him.
There were of course mitigating factors behind his spell at PSG failing to spark, but at just 23 Ekitike does have a failed move to a bigger side on his CV. That could be a worry.
As Liverpool fans saw all too well with Nunez, the weight of being the Reds’ main striker can be difficult to grapple with for a young player in a new country.
Nunez and Ekitike are very different players, but given the similarities in fees, age and the fact they both joined Liverpool from a ‘lesser’ league, the comparisons are bound to be made.
So, while we love the fact a Liverpool legend like Nicol is sticking up for Ekitike, we think Leboeuf is right that with this one, it is simply a case of ‘wait and see.’
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
