Liverpool are happy to pay EXTRA for Hugo Ekitike deal

Liverpool have got a new No9 in the shape of Hugo Ekitike. As the summer progressed it became clear that sporting director Richard Hughes had two players in mind for the position.

Ekitike, the Eintracht Frankfurt striker, was one of them and Alexander Isak the other. An Arne Slot masterclass has appeared to convince Ekitike to play for Liverpool and there could well be a move for Isak later down the line.

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For now Liverpool have acquired a No9 of immense potential, who is coming off the back of a 22-goal season in Frankfurt colours.

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The fee for Ekitike is an initial £69m - a long way shy of his reported €100m release clause. With Ekitike under contract until 2029, Frankfurt were reasonably well protected from a transfer fee perspective.

Liverpool deal for Ekitike starts at £69m

And there could well be another £10m added to the overall total should all of the player’s add-ons be activated. Despite paying up to £79m for Ekitike, there are no regrets over the fee from Liverpool.

In fact it’s been claimed by Ben Jacobs - the noted transfer journalist - that Liverpool will be HAPPY to pay that amount for Ekitike as it means both player AND club have been successful.

In order to trigger the add-ons, a sequence of personal and collective milestones will need to be hit - in terms of matches played, goals scored and trophies won.

Add-ons will take deal to £79m

"I think they’re add-ons that Liverpool would be glad to pay,” Jacobs told the Born N’Red YouTube channel.

“That’s the long and short of it. In other words, they’re tied to winning trophies, but also individual success.

"It’s not as black and white — some are player-specific and others are about team silverware.

“There’s a link for some of them whereby, if the add-on is paid, it might require Liverpool winning a trophy and Hugo Ekitike, in that season, to play a certain number of games.

Liverpool will be GLAD to pay for Ekitike add-ons

“Which means that if Liverpool pay them, it will mean — you get this double tick: number one, that Liverpool have won a trophy, and number two, that Ekitike has been integral in winning that trophy. And therefore, Liverpool are glad to pay them."

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Ekitike could become the second most-expensive signing in the club’s history - after Florian Wirtz - should those add-ons and bonuses be activated.

And as the club set about overhauling their playing squad during a landmark summer - it is a price that is certainly worth paying.

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