Chelsea refuses to give up on Liverpool target despite closing in on $40M transfer

Chelsea refuses to give up on Liverpool target despite closing in on $40M transfer

Liverpool have been dealt a fresh blow in the transfer market with Premier League rivals Chelsea now entering the race for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo EChelsea refuses to give up on Liverpool target despite closing in on $40M transferkitike

Chelsea remains interested in Hugo Ekitike even though the Blues are closing in on a deal for Liam Delap. Liverpool boss Arne Slot had pinpointed the Eintracht Frankfurt frontman as a potential recruit this summer.

Ekitike was earmarked as a prospective successor to Darwin Nunez, who is expected to leave Anfield this summer. However, Ekitike may now have a decision to make on his next destination.

Manchester United once showed fervent interest but has seemingly dropped back in the quest for Delap, as have Newcastle and Everton.

The ex-Manchester City youngster has impressed during his first season at Ipswich by bagging a dozen goals, notwithstanding the club's immediate drop to the Championship again.

Meanwhile, Ekitike has sparkled this term, hitting the net 22 times across all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Axel Hellmann, CEO and now board member of Frankfurt, confirmed the Premier League's eye on Ekitike, expressing: "I would love to have him at Frankfurt for another ten years, if possible.

"But we are realistic. He is one of the best high-potential players in Europe at the moment and he is only 22. That means he has a great future.

"He is a clever guy. He loves to listen and learn. I would love him to stay another couple of years. But the market is the market and half of the Premier League clubs are interested in signing him."

"Besides the Premier League, there are other markets for him that he has opened doors to with his performances. I think he would also fit in other leagues and with big clubs in Southern Europe."

Ekitike began his football journey with French club Reims before securing a lucrative transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. Last season saw him loaned out to Frankfurt, where the German outfit opted to make the move permanent. His contract still has four years remaining.

Liverpool is on the brink of acquiring two of Ekitike's Bundesliga counterparts. Jeremie Frimpong has jetted into the UK for a medical, while Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz is also on the Reds' radar as a key target.

Arne Slot is then expected to turn his attention to a new No.9 but may have to consider other targets, should Ekitike prefer a move to Stamford Bridge.