Credit: IMAGO

Rahul Lakhani

Thu 17 July 2025 18:30, UK

Liverpool’s summer transfer plans are well underway, and at the top of their agenda lies a key decision: Hugo Ekitike or Alexander Isak?

Despite being long-time admirers of Newcastle’s Isak, recent reports have revealed Liverpool have made progress in talks for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ekitike.

As the saga heats up, Liverpool News have taken a deep dive into the tactical fit of both players to determine which striker would suit Arne Slot‘s system best.

Player Profiles: Style, Age and Market Value

Isak joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022, and has since blossomed into one of the best strikers in Europe.

Ekitike, meanwhile, is two years younger and a rising star in the Bundesliga. He also helped Eintracht Frankfurt reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season.

2024-25 League Stat Comparison: Ekitike vs Isak

There is no denying that both strikers are among Europe’s best and both possess many attributes that fit Liverpool‘s philosophy.

While Isak is the more clinical and proven forward, Ekitike shows promising underlying metrics, particularly in ball progression and pressing volume, two areas valued highly by Slot.

Overall Style of Play

Both strikers are forwards who excel on the ball and can create in their own right, as opposed to one-dimensional ‘poacher’ style attackers, and they share remarkably similar profiles in terms of their style of play.

Clearly, Michael Edwards has identified Ekitike as the closest alternative to Isak on the market, as opposed to more physical strikers such as Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres.

Interestingly, as FBRef‘s radar chart shows, Ekitike actually ranks higher than Isak in the air, while both share similar records with regard to their passing and dribbling statistics.

Key Insights:

• Ekitike outperforms Isak in majority of defensive areas: Ekitike excels in tackles, interceptions, ariel duels won and clearances blocks; making him ideal for pressing from the front.
• Isak dominates attacking categories: Isak’s best attributes come in the final third, such as non-penalty goals, expected goals (xG) and expected assisted goals (xAG). This suggests Isak is the more reliable offensive contributor.

Isak is clearly the more clinical forward, but Ekitike offers more physicality in the air, and this can help in both attacking and defensive situations.

Ekitike’s aerial strength could even allow Liverpool to go direct, and goalkeeper Alisson would certainly appreciate having him as an option to aim for with long passes.

Tactical Fit: Who Suits Arne Slot’s 4-2-3-1 Formation Best?

With Florian Wirtz already joining for a club-record fee, Slot will use a 4-2-3-1 formation, deviating from the 4-3-3 seen under Jurgen Klopp for many years.

Wirtz will play off the centre-forward, and the striker will need to be able to press off the ball to allow the German to express himself creatively.

Ekitike

• Energetic and direct, thrives in fast-paced, high-transition systems.
• Performs well in counter-pressing setups.
• Weak decision-making but tactically mouldable.

Isak

• Well-suited to controlled possession and half-space exploitation.
• Strong in fluid systems, holds the line, and likes to drift into channels.
• Less aggressive in pressing phases.

Slot’s 4-2-3-1 formation relies on vertical high, fluid front-four movements and pressing resistance. While Isak offers a lot going forward, Ekitike’s high energy and influence in quick turnovers may make him the better signing.

FSG’s Strategy Assessed

Even though Ekitike is an expensive target, he comes with a much lower price tag than Isak, given Newcastle’s stubbornness over a potential deal.

According to David Ornstein, Liverpool are ‘progressing on a package worth in excess of €80 million (£70 million)’ for Ekitike.

Newcastle United value Isak at more than £150 million — a considerably higher fee than Eintracht Frankfurt are likely to agree on, and are seemingly unwilling to sell him at all this summer.

• Ekitike is younger and has high potential, but has less international experience.
• Isak is Premier League and internationally proven, but would cost considerably more to sign.

Liverpool have already invested heavily in Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, and could also look to bring in another winger if Luis Diaz leaves Anfield this summer.

This could mean FSG elect for the better value signing, as well as the long-term option, in Ekitike, as part of their wider ‘moneyball’ strategy which has proven so successful in the past.

Isak has also shown himself to be much more injury-prone over the years, and his signing does not come without risk in this sense.

Final Verdict: Which Striker Should Liverpool Sign?

While Isak would certainly be the lower-risk signing, as well as the bigger statement, there are plenty of arguments in favour of Ekitike.

The Frenchman may actually suit Liverpool’s system better, while costing significantly less as the younger player, but Isak’s decisive finishing ability may give him the edge overall.

If Liverpool want an instant-impact, Champions League-ready striker, Isak is the clear choice. But if Slot would prefer to develop a young forward, and FSG want the most value for money, then Ekitike would be the smarter signing.

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