Fabrizio Romano confirms €100m forward is CONCRETE target

Transfer talk is hotting up as the summer window reopens. Liverpool made use of the pre-FIFA Club World Cup mini-window - bringing in Jeremie Frimpong and Armin Pecsi.

Those two will be joined soon by Milos Kerkez and the icing on the cake - Florian Wirtz. But there are also plans afoot to add a new striker to the ranks.

READ MORE: Liverpool could follow Florian Wirtz with second MEGA signing

Current options include Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota - but neither has managed to convince Arne Slot. They only hit 11 goals between them during the 2024/25 Premier League title win - and improvements are required.

READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool in talks over SENSATIONAL €100m striker deal

Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes aren’t short of targets - with several top strikers already associated with an Anfield transfer.

Ekitike on Liverpool shortlist

From Joao Pedro to Alexander Isak and Victor Osimhen, Liverpool are reportedly interested in plenty of top-quality names. And one player frequently linked with a move to Merseyside is Hugo Ektike.

The 22-year-old scored 22 goals in all competitions last season for Eintracht Frankfurt - putting him on the radar of Europe’s top clubs.

France under-21 international Ekitike has got a price tag of €100m this summer - and is under contract with the Bundesliga giants until 2029.

And now Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Ekitike IS a concrete Liverpool target this summer as a replacement for the outbound Darwin.

Romano claims Liverpool are interested in Ekitike

“Don’t forget how Liverpool are involved in the story for Hugo Ekitike,” the Italian transfer supremo said on his YouTube channel.

“Because Liverpool are waiting to find a solution for Darwin Nunez. Darwin is expected to leave Liverpool. Napoli are in contact with the player’s camp, so Napoli are on it.

“There is also interest from more European clubs, but also from Saudi. Darwin was a top target in Saudi in January, and Darwin remains a target for this summer transfer window for Saudi clubs.

“And so let’s also follow the Darwin Nunez situation, because, with Darwin leaving, Ekitike is a concrete target for Liverpool.”

Liverpool 'in regular contact' with Ekitike

Romano followed that declaration up by claiming that the Reds are in dialogue with Ekitike’s entourage - talks which were instigated last month.

“Liverpool already spoke to the agents of the player at the end of May. Liverpool are in regular contact with people close to Hugo Ekitike. So for sure Ekitike remains a player on Liverpool’s list.”

Ekitike has been of interest to Liverpool since 2022 - before his transfer from Stade Reims to Paris Saint-Germain. His time in the Parc des Princes didn’t work out but the forward has re-established his reputation with Frankfurt.

READ MORE: Liverpool set to break transfer record for SECOND time

Having sold the likes of Luka Jovic, Sebastian Haller, Randal Kolo Muani and Omar Marmoush for big money in recent seasons, the German outfit will be again demanding top dollar for their striking sensation this summer.