Better deal than Ekitike: Liverpool preparing £45m bid for "monster" star
da pixbet： Liverpool have been quite the busy shoppers this summer. But then we knew this would be the case, with Arne Slot having established himself as Jurgen Klopp’s successor with minimal investment last season, only signing Juventus’ Federico Chiesa for a £12.5m fee.
da bet7： Chiesa’s first Premier League start came against Brighton & Hove Albion in May. It was the penultimate game of the season, and he lasted only an hour.
Now, the Italian forward, wracked by injuries and consequent struggles for form and fluency last year, is set to leave. It’s a sad thing, since he’s talented and popular both in the dressing room and with the fanbase, but the 27-year-old must act wisely, following his career ambitions.
Mohamed Salah, then, will continue to dominate on the right flank, but Jeremie Frimpong adds depth and Ben Doak may too, although the young Scot has been linked with a move away after his loan spell with Middlesbrough last term.
Chiesa can also play centrally, but with Liverpool now on the brink of finalising the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, there’s cause for optimism, all right.
Liverpool seal deal for Hugo Ekitike
All that remains is the official announcement. Liverpool have got their man. Ekitike is regarded as one of the most talented young strikers in the world and could lead the Anfield line for many years to come.
While Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak was (still is?) the club’s top target at number nine, the Magpies are seeking something significant, in the £130m ballpark, to part ways with their talisman.
Ekitike is undeveloped, but there’s so much to like. With silky and speedy running, combining with an instinctive sharpness, he has been likened by data-driven site FBref as one of Isak’s most comparable players.
It’s a fantastic deal, and no mistake. However, Liverpool aren’t done yet, and they are preparing to make their move for what could prove to be an even better signing.
Liverpool prepare bid for Premier League star
As per Football Insider, Liverpool are preparing to make their move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
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Prevailing interest from Real Madrid in Ibrahima Konate, who has entered the final year of his contract, is thought to have raised the urgency for sporting director Richard Hughes.
The report states that the Premier League champions are looking increasingly likely to make a £45m offer for the England international this summer.
Guehi, 25, is also just one year away from free agency, and with no plans to extend his stay at Selhurst Park, Liverpool will be confident that they can get a deal done this summer.
How Marc Guehi could improve Liverpool
Liverpool know that losing Konate would be a blow. It would be a bitter pill to swallow, for the Frenchman is one of the best defenders in the world.
But so is Guehi; many just don’t know it yet. Although saying that, he’s not unaccomplished. Hailed as “England’s best centre-back” by one analyst, the Three Lions star did captain Palace to last year’s FA Cup title, beating Manchester City in the final.
While signing a striker such as Ekitike marks important business for the Reds, it might actually be that Guehi would mark better business, for, regardless of the outcome of Konate’s situation, Liverpool have spent frugally on their central defence in recent years.
With Jarell Quansah having been sold to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m, you might even say that landing a player like Guehi is a necessity, especially when considering the cut-price fee that he is available for.
Considering that Tottenham Hotspur tried to prise him away from south London only in January, offering a £70m fee, this could go down as a blinder.
Did Newcastle United not fail with four offers one year ago, the last of which totalled £65m? Circumstances dictate financial parameters in football, but this would undoubtedly prove a fantastic deal for Liverpool, snapping up a defender approaching the prime of their career for a shrewd figure.
Described as a “monster in defence” by reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi is the real deal, having come into his own last year. Certainly, his complete and commanding Premier League performances suggest he has what it takes to thrive at Liverpool as they chase down another title.
Marc Guehi in the Premier League (24/25)
Stats (* per game)
#
Matches (starts)
34 (34)
Goals
3
Assists
2
Clean sheets
11
Touches*
64.9
Pass completion
84%
Key passes*
0.5
Dribbles*
0.4
Ball recoveries*
4.3
Tackles + interceptions*
2.6
Clearances*
4.6
Duels (won)*
4.9 (59%)
Errors made
2
Data via Sofascore
And not just any defender. While Ekitike is a talented and up-and-coming sensation, Guehi is already there, and he’s proven in the Premier League besides, which is a big thing. Long is the list of prospects alighting in England’s top flight with a weight of expectation only to fall flat.
We’re not advocating for Ekitike’s demise; far from it. Talent scout Jacek Kulig claims that the Frenchman “could definitely reach world-class striker levels”, and that’s certainly the vision of FSG and Slot.
However, this hopefully sheds some light on the masterful deal that Hughes and co could pull off by signing Guehi, who, having featured prominently for England and in the Premier League, could play a starring role in Slot’s machinations, looking to dominate for years to come.
And he knows how to pass, too. As per FBref, Guehi ranked among the top 17% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues last season for assists and the top 13% for shot-creating actions per 90.
Oliver Glasner’s high-intensity, transitional style of football has instilled in Guehi an angle toward the ball-playing side of the central defensive game. Slot, then, would find in the titan a style which matches his own brand at Liverpool.
With other clubs also keen, Liverpool need to get this one over the line pronto.
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