Liverpool have struck a deal to sign highly-rated striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth up to £79million.
The Reds had been locked in negotiations with the German side after poaching Newcastle’s top target. Ekitike only wanted Liverpool and is set to complete a medical in the coming days.
The package is a £69m base fee plus £10m in add-ons which are based on team and player performance.
Mail Sport reported in March that Ekitike was a top target. Liverpool hope he can fly out to their pre-season tour in Hong Kong and Japan.
Arne Slot’s squad departed for the Far East on Sunday night after beating Stoke 5-0 in a behind-closed-doors game at the AXA Training Base in Kirkby; the champions played two different starting line-ups before and after half-time and Florian Wirtz, the club record addition, got his first competitive action for the club following his £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Ekitike has become the side’s fifth major addition this summer following the signings of Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Liverpool have reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt over the signing of French striker Hugo Ekitike
The Premier League champions are hopeful the 23-year-old can join the rest of the roster on tour in Hong Kong and Japan
His acquisition has taken their summer spend to £289m, with reports indicating that the side are not yet finished with their spree.
Last week, Newcastle had an offer of £70m rejected for Ekitike, which fell £16m short of his release clause.
Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak but that move remains in question, especially after the major outplay for the France Under 21 international.
Last season Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 games for Frankfurt in all competitions, with 15 of those strikes coming in the Bundesliga.
He was also named in the Bundesliga team of the season following a hugely impressive campaign.
