Liverpool have come up with a new transfer plan that will really annoy Hugo Ekitike

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Hugo Ekitike has stood head and shoulders above every other Liverpool summer signing so far this season.

Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt, the Frenchman has six goals to his name as a Red in 2025/26.

Fans have voted Ekitike as their favourite signing, securing a staggering 77% share in the poll.

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has called the Liverpool striker ‘brilliant’ and expressed how much he loves watching him in action.

Yet, despite receiving much praise, the 23-year-old’s role in the Reds’ starting eleven moving forward is under threat.

Liverpool striker search is bad news for Hugo Ekitike

After Alexander Isak’s return from injury, Ekitike was swiftly dropped to the bench for Liverpool’s first game back after the international break.

A bizarre call, given how little game time the Swede has had since the summer, and one that really backfired on Arne Slot.

Isak was anonymous against Nottingham Forest, and by the time Ekitike was finally brought on, the game was already lost.

Slot’s desire to shoehorn the former Newcastle United man in does make some sense as Liverpool paid a British transfer record for the centre-forward.

Ekitike should accept that he will have to be rotated with Isak going forward, but he is unlikely to be too pleased with the latest transfer news coming out of Anfield.

It’s been reported this week that, as well as a winger and a centre-back, Liverpool could sign a striker in January under favourable market conditions.

Why they would want another number nine is anyone’s guess, as Ekitike has already proven he is more than capable of leading the line, and Isak, whether he comes good or not, will play a lot due to his price tag.

Wayne Rooney is right about Hugo Ekitike

After losing his place in the eleven against Forest, Rooney explained why Ekitike should be ‘fuming’.

As per BBC Sport, he said: “None of them [summer signings] have really paid off apart from Hugo Ekitike.

“If I was Ekitike, I’d be fuming if I wasn’t playing.”

Unfortunately for Ekitike, the Liverpool boss has already made it clear he will play the ex-Magpie regularly to try and get him fully fit and back in form.

Speaking live at his pre-Nottingham Forest press conference last week, he said: “I do know that a 100 percent fit Alexander Isak is a big, big, big plus for this team.

“But for him to get there, he might need to have minutes where you could argue that another player might be further ahead of him in terms of match fitness.”

Adding yet more competition to Liverpool’s attack will not help Ekitike, who, in reality, probably needs to start most games if the Reds are to turn their season around.