Liverpool ‘ready Darwin Nunez replacement’ after Hugo Ekitike development
Liverpool may already have a replacement in mind for Darwin Nunez, with Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike on the radar at Anfield.
The Uruguay international signed for the Reds in 2022 from Benfica and was expected to be their first-choice striker for several years to come.
Nunez has failed to live up to expectations at Anfield, though, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him leave in the upcoming transfer window.
Arne Slot hasn’t relied on the former Benfica striker as his number nine in the current campaign, and they’ll arguably need to replace him if an exit is sanctioned.
Nunez transfer right call at Liverpool next summer
Slot is on course to lift the Premier League title in his debut season in the English top flight, and the Dutch manager has done so without playing a recognised striker in some matches.
The former Feyenoord boss has exceeded expectations at the Reds, bringing the best out of his squad since taking over.
With the 46-year-old head coach relying on a core group of players, the likes of the Uruguayan centre-forward have struggled for regular minutes.
It’d make sense for the Merseyside outfit to cut their losses on the 25-year-old in the coming months, and that’s where Ekitike could potentially come into consideration.
Hugo Ekitike est prêt à relever un nouveau défi. En PL, Liverpool et Arsenal gardent un œil attentif sur sa situation. Si Alexander Isak demeure la priorité offensive d’Arsenal, Ekitike fait aussi partie des profils suivis. À ce stade, rien n’est encore décidé. À noter que…
— Abdellah Boulma (@AbdellahBoulma) April 19, 2025
Slot needs Ekitike move at Anfield soon
Ekitike has been linked with a move to Anfield in the upcoming transfer window as a big summer awaits the potential Premier League champions.
Slot has done a brilliant job in the English top flight, but the Reds’ struggles in the domestic cup competitions and the Champions League highlight the need for reinforcements.
The Merseyside outfit were knocked out of the European competition by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 and lost to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool are already working on bolstering their attack next summer and are keeping an eye on Ekitike, according to Abdellah Boulma.
| Competition (2024/25) | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Bundesliga | 28 | 14 | 5 |
The French journalist revealed on X (19 April) that the Reds are monitoring the 22-year-old centre-forward’s situation at Frankfurt as he’s keen on a new challenge next season.
It will be interesting to see how much the Bundesliga outfit will demand for the France Under-21 international, whom they signed from PSG on loan initially in 2024.
If the German club’s demands are sensible, the Reds shouldn’t hesitate to make an offer for Ekitike in the coming months.
While the 22-year-old failed to fulfil his potential at the Parc des Princes, he’s found his feet at Frankfurt and could potentially become the next big superstar soon.