Liverpool Weigh Up Frankfurt Striker as Isak Price Tag Sparks Summer Striker Debate | OneFootball

Ekitike or Isak? Liverpool’s Summer No.9 Dilemma Unfolds

Slot’s First Real Squad on Horizon

This summer marks a crucial pivot for Liverpool under Arne Slot. After inheriting Jürgen Klopp’s core squad and navigating a supposed transitional season that could now astonishingly deliver the Premier League title, Slot finally gets the chance to shape a team in his own image. Anfield Watch confirms: “that’s one of the main goals this summer” as the Reds look to “overhaul their attacking options.”

Last summer brought only Federico Chiesa—a signing Slot has “barely used”—leaving the Dutchman working with a unit not of his making. But the 2025 window offers a clean slate, and with a new No.9 firmly on the agenda, Liverpool appear to be casting their net wide.

Photo: IMAGO

Ekitike: The Complete Prospect?

“Ekitike is one of the most promising forwards in Europe right now, after all. He’s still only 22 but looks near-enough complete – exactly what Liverpool are looking for right now.”That glowing assessment from Anfield Watch outlines why Hugo Ekitike has surged into prominence. Once valued around £60m, the Frenchman offered an ideal profile: dynamic, technical, and far cheaper than Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.

However, as interest in Ekitike grows, so does his price tag.

Isak Remains the Benchmark

Newcastle’s Isak is widely considered Liverpool’s top target, but a “near £150m” valuation creates serious barriers. That’s why “Liverpool [had] every single reason to push for Ekitike as an alternative.”

Photo: IMAGO

But with Bild reporting Frankfurt now want “at least £70m”, the chasm between Isak and Ekitike is narrowing. It’s no longer about finding a bargain—it’s about making the right strategic call.

Frankfurt Hold the Cards

Frankfurt know exactly what they have. A 22-year-old forward seen as “the alternative to Isak” and younger than the Swede, Ekitike’s valuation is ballooning accordingly. According to Bild, Frankfurt “internally believe Ekitike could be their first €100m transfer.”

If that holds, Liverpool may find themselves back at square one—debating whether to go all in on Isak despite the cost, or gamble on a rapidly rising Ekitike market.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

This is the kind of transfer talk that gets pulses racing. Liverpool are on the brink of a Premier League title and now, for the first time in years, they’re heading into a summer where a new manager gets to handpick his frontman. It’s exciting—and the thought of Ekitike leading the line under Arne Slot is mouth-watering.

At 22, Ekitike is the modern forward prototype—fast, skillful, and clinical. If £60m was once the fee, that felt like a bargain for someone of his potential. But as Bild suggests the price may climb to £70m or beyond, fans might rightly ask: is he worth the risk if he’s no longer the value option?

Then there’s Isak. £150m is absurd, but if Ekitike keeps creeping closer to nine figures, suddenly the safer, Premier League-proven option doesn’t look quite so far-fetched.

What we do know is this: Arne Slot needs his man, and Liverpool can’t afford to miss again like they did last summer. Whoever they pick, the pressure is on to deliver a striker worthy of leading a title-challenging squad into a new era.

Let the striker saga begin.