France manager Didier Deschamps undecided over calling up Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitike (23) is reportedly in a strong position to receive his first-ever senior France call-up from Didier Deschamps, but the Les Bleus manager is yet to decide whether or not he’ll call up the in-form Liverpool centre-forward for France’s upcoming games, according to TF1. Deschamps will reveal on Wednesday his squad for France’s first 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Les Bleus will face Ukraine on Friday, September 5, at Wroclaw’s Stadium in Poland. Four days later, France will host Iceland at Paris’ Parc des Princes. TF1 adds that Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki is expected to receive a call-up from Deschamps after a remarkable cameo against Spain in last June’s Nations League semi-final.

As for Ekitike, who hit the ground running with Liverpool with two goals in two games, the former Eintracht Frankfurt centre-forward is understood to be the “better-placed” candidate to receive his first senior France call-up. The Liverpool striker could benefit from Randal Kolo Muani’s situation. The PSG centre-forward – a regular occurrence in Deschamps’ squads – is yet to play a competitive game this season, given his return to Juventus remains in limbo.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval