Chelsea Lookback: Hugo Ekitike linked with £60m Chelsea move a year ago today | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitike already looks like a Premier League star having made the move to Liverpool in the summer. A year ago, it was Chelsea being linked.

Every now and again we like to look back at what was going on a year ago today.

In this case it was some transfer gossip, and we reported on a story from transfer site CaughtOffside which claimed that £60m would be enough to sign Hugo Ekitike, and that Chelsea were interested in him. Ekitike was seen as a “cheaper option” to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak as the Blues hunted a new number 9.

Ekitike ends up in the Premier League – but not with Chelsea

Hugo Ekitike celebrates a goal. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Boy do we wish this had happened. In the end, the Blues spent £60m on Joao Pedro and £30m on Liam Delap, and Ekitike went to Liverpool for £69m. While the JP is finally coming into form and showing what he can do, you wouldn’t find any Reds who would trade their signing for him.

He already looks like a top player, despite his team’s struggles, and has so much room to get even better.

If it’s any comfort, this move was probably never on the cards – Ekitike was likely to pick newly crowned champions Liverpool over the Blues in any case. But just imagine how good we’d be looking with the France star up top now…

Oh well, there are plenty more chances to secure the next Ekitike in the years to come.

In other news…

Reece James had a really nice interview today with Chelsea where he spoke a little about growing up in a football crazy family.

Liam Rosenior’s bond with his players is becoming clear, and in particular his bond with Andrey Santos is notable.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here: