Wonderkid forward is now ready to join Liverpool

If you thought Liverpool’s season couldn’t take another turn for the worse, it just has.

Hugo Ekitike suffered a devastating Achilles rupture against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. The injury is expected to sideline him not only for the remainder of this season, but also the World Cup and a significant portion of the next campaign.

Current projections suggest a recovery period of around nine months, a huge blow for both the player and Liverpool.

Of all the club’s new signings, Ekitike had adapted the quickest. He registered 23 goal contributions in his debut season, an impressive return given the team’s overall struggles.

In many respects, he has quickly emerged as one of the new faces of the club and a firm fan favourite.

Now, however, Liverpool must find a way to move forward without him. Arne Slot will be without one of his most influential attackers for the foreseeable future.

The question is, who can step up to fill that void?

Liverpool’s attacking depth is looking worryingly thin. Outside of Alexander Isak, there are few dependable options available.

Changes are also looming. Federico Chiesa is expected to move on this summer, while Mohamed Salah could be heading for the exit as well. Meanwhile, Jayden Danns remains a doubt due to ongoing injury problems, making it difficult for the club to rely on him over a sustained period.

Given that situation, Liverpool will need to turn elsewhere, and there is an obvious answer in Will Wright.

The 18-year-old wasn’t short on experience even before his move, having already featured at senior level for Salford City. Remarkably, he achieved that while still only 16, alongside scoring over 40 goals at academy level in the same season.

He had also been making waves in pre-season with Salford’s first team scoring several goals and underlining his potential before he even stepped foot on the hallowed Anfield turf.

Wright adapted quickly after arriving, too. He was handed a first-team opportunity in a pre-season clash against Athletic Bilbao on the day his transfer was confirmed and very nearly marked his debut with a goal.

That was a glimpse of what he could offer.

Will Wright has impressed since arriving at Liverpool, even though an early injury ruled him out for a significant stretch at the start of the season.

Since returning, his numbers have been strong, he’s averaging a goal contribution every 94 minutes in Premier League 2. But beyond the stats, it’s his intensity that really stands out. His constant pressing, energy, and willingness to chase every ball have made a big impact.

In that sense, there are clear similarities to Darwin Nunez - particularly in the way Wright battles for loose balls and helps drive the U21 side forward.

He's scored yet another brace for Liverpool's U21 side in a friendly and that shows he's ready for first-team action. Even now towards the end of the season given Liverpool's lack of depth, Wright deserves a place on the bench and perhaps even a short cameo.

But wiith Hugo Ekitike sidelined and Alexander Isak also unavailable during pre-season due to being at the World Cup, Wright will definitely get his chance in the summer.

He’s certainly one to watch closely because he has all the ability in the world to make the step-up.

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