Liverpool are looking to sign the next Hugo Ekitike according to a recent report.
Over the course of the last six months, there have been many forwards linked with a move to Anfield. It’s fair to say among the fanbase Ekitike was not necessarily a popular option.
The fans preferred players like Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko. Thankfully, though Liverpool’s recruitment team made the right choice, the only choice they could make.
Ekitike was by far and away the best option for Liverpool. He isn’t just a goal-scorer but he’s someone who makes everyone better around him.
He’s a mixture of Roberto Firmino and Thierry Henry rolled into one. This is why he has always been the clear target for Liverpool.
And he’s starting to show that on the pitch as well.
Three goals in three games and an assist on top of that. The last player and the only player to do that in a Liverpool shirt in the last 50 years was Daniel Sturridge who went onto make 46 goal contributions in his first 50 matches for the Reds.
Ekitike will be hoping to follow suit of that and build himself an indelible legacy at the club. Liverpool meanwhile will be looking at his performances as an example.
Everyone always says the Bundesliga market is ‘cursed.’ They point to Timo Werner, Christopher Nkunku and Kai Havertz as examples of why this is the case.
But Liverpool have proven time and time again that they can shop that market extremely cleverly. From Joel Matip to Roberto Firmino and Dominik Szoboszlai – the Reds have it figured out.
And it seems like they are looking to repeat the formula. According to the Daily Mail the club’s scouts are already keeping an eye on the next Hugo Ekitike.
That is Can Uzun, who has come in to replace the Frenchman and scored on his first Bundesliga game of the season.
Not only that, Uzun also registered two assists, adding to an assist he registered in the DFP Pokal, which means he has four goal contributions in his first two matches of the campaign.
He’s a lot smaller and more of an attacking midfielder in comparison to Ekitike but it’s easy to see why Liverpool would like him.
Uzun is only 19-years-old and he’s already got a lot of experience under his belt. For Frankfurt he has averaged 0.86 goal contributions in the Bundesliga, which is a great return.
© IMAGO – Can Uzun Liverpool
Liverpool may be looking to add another no.10 in the future, or further reinforcements given that Harvey Elliott is unlikely to remain at the club for the long-term.
Federico Chiesa is also another player who like Elliott is expected to stay this summer but it’s moot what his future holds beyond this season.
So if Uzun continues to catch the eye, he could easily end up on the club’s radar next summer when they are looking to find replacements for Chiesa and Elliott.
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