Ekitike’s former youth coach Jean-Philippe, AKA ‘Nano’, spoke with GOAL in 2021 and explained some of the qualities he exuded as a young boy, which have continued into his playing career as an adult.

Liverpool thumped Stoke City 5–0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly which also marked Florian Wirtz’s unofficial debut.

While Isak remains the preferred choice to lead the line, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have never been a duo to leave Liverpool vulnerable to dead-end negotiations. Enter Hugo Ekitike, the French U21 international whose profile seems increasingly aligned with the club’s evolving recruitment strategy.

Liverpool is closing in on a deal to sign Hugo Ekitike and if the Reds' track record in the transfer market over the last 10 years is anything to go by, he will probably be a roaring success