After Salah: Another huge name could leave Liverpool; but Mbappe may kill the transfer

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Empire of the Kop

·1 April 2026

After Salah: Another huge name could leave Liverpool; but Mbappe may kill the transfer

Hugo Ekitike has reportedly risen sharply in Real Madrid’s estimations following a remarkable debut campaign with Liverpool, reports Graeme Bailey.

The French international has been one of the standout stars of the 2025/26 season, registering 17 goals and six assists in 42 games (across all competitions).

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As such, Los Blancos are understood to now consider the striker as a potentially suitable candidate for their long-term succession planning.

Hardly news to Liverpool fans’ ears, with a key attacking figure in Mo Salah already set to leave this summer.

Hugo Ekitike rising on Real Madrid’s transfer shortlist

It’ll come as no surprise to anyone that the La Liga giants have been impressed with Ekitike’s performances this season.

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It would hardly be the first time that a promising Liverpool attacker has landed on a shortlist for one of the two top Spanish clubs.

Now, Bailey, reporting for TEAMtalk, understands that the 23-year-old is “part of a shortlist being considered as part of the club’s forward planning beyond 2026.”

However, the same report indicates that Madrid may not look to act upon their admiration much before 2027.

* Hugo Ekitike’s stats (per 90) for Liverpool in the 2025/26 Premier League season (Fotmob)

Kylian Mbappe could kill Ekitike transfer

It’s not the first time a club has looked at Hugo Ekitike as the answer to their Kylian Mbappe problems.

The Frenchman was once signed by PSG as a potential successor to his international colleague. However, this is a move that famously didn’t work out for all parties, and it took a subsequent move to Germany to reignite the 2002-born forward’s playing career.

Fast forward to the 2025/26 season, and Ekitike’s development has been further progressed with a switch to Anfield.

Would a move to Real Madrid be a logical next step?

There are clear arguments against this. Perhaps the most convincing is Mbappe, with the former Paris star having made a home for himself as Los Blancos’ leading centre forward.

At 27 years of age (being set to turn 28 at the start of 2027), there’s no immediate rush to find a successor.

Ultimately, given that Hugo Ekitike’s nailed down a starting berth in Liverpool’s first-XI, we find it hard to believe he’d be mesmerised by the prospect of competing with his compatriot for minutes in Spain.