Hugo Ekitike is a 22-year-old French striker currently tearing up the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt. He has scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists this season, and following the departure of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City, Ekitike has stepped up as Frankfurt’s main man.

He has been reliably linked with Liverpool in recent months, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Ekitike is due to leave Frankfurt at the end of the season and that Liverpool are one of the most interested clubs.

Ekitike has bounced back from a disappointing stint at PSG to become one of the most highly regarded young forwards in Europe. Standing at 6’3”, he has the physical presence required to thrive in the Premier League. What sets him apart, however, is his impressive technical ability and skill on the ball—qualities not typically associated with players of his stature.

Ekitike possesses all the tools needed to become one of the best strikers in world football: he can hold up play and link with teammates, use his close control and flair to embarrass defenders, make smart movements in the penalty area, attack space with his pace, and compete effectively in aerial duels.

As highlighted by his radar chart, Ekitike’s data suggests that he is already an extremely well-rounded forward for his age. He ranks in the top 10% of European strikers for non-penalty xG, expected assists, assisted goals, and shot-creating actions. This output places him in the top 3% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for combined non-penalty xG and expected assists.

Ekitike has slightly underperformed his xG this season, which might indicate that he isn’t yet an elite finisher—but at just 22 years old, there’s every reason to believe his finishing will improve over time. Even with that underperformance, Ekitike more than meets Arne Slot’s requirements for a striker who can both score and facilitate.

In possession, Ekitike continues to impress. His blend of physicality and skill makes him a standout in several key metrics. He ranks in the top 5% of strikers for progressive carries and take-ons, while also sitting in the 89th percentile for progressive passes received—a reflection of his intelligent movement.

He’s heavily involved in general play for a centre-forward, ranking in the top 12% for touches and the top 30% for both passes attempted and pass completion percentage. His progressive passing numbers are also solid, lying in the 63rd percentile.

Defensively, Ekitike puts in a respectable shift. He wins over 50% of his aerial duels, putting him in the top 16% of strikers in this area. He ranks in the 65th percentile for tackles and interceptions per 90, and also posts above-average numbers for dribblers tackled and clearances. This shows he’s committed to defending from the front and contributes when his team is out of possession.

Ekitike has proven that he can perform across different leagues. His breakout season at Reims earned him a £30 million move to PSG in 2022. That move likely came a little too early, as he was overshadowed by the star-studded front three of Neymar, Mbappé, and Messi.

Still, he has since rebuilt his reputation and form in Germany. While he hasn’t yet played in the Premier League, he did score a hat-trick for France U21 against England in March—a team that featured only one outfield player not currently playing in the Premier League. He also netted a stunning goal against Tottenham in the Europa League recently.

Although Ekitike has not logged significant minutes in any position other than centre-forward, he has the skillset to operate on the left wing if needed—similar to Darwin Núñez. He also has a very clean injury history, with just one significant injury in his career: a hamstring tear at Reims in the 2021–22 season.

As mentioned earlier, Ekitike has already been strongly linked with Liverpool as the season draws to a close. He’s viewed as a far more attainable target than Alexander Isak, and his profile is remarkably similar to the Swedish striker.

His reported price tag has fluctuated. Back in March, it was said to be around £68 million, but recent interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Manchester United has seen that figure rise to closer to £85 million. However, with Arsenal prioritizing Viktor Gyökeres, Newcastle likely retaining Isak, and Manchester United nearing a deal for Matheus Cunha, competition for Ekitike may cool.

If Liverpool do make him their top target, a deal in the region of the originally reported £68 million could well be possible.