An agent has revealed how Liverpool were able to snatch Hugo Ekitike from under the noses of Newcastle, with a £79 million ($107m) deal pushed through.
French forward appeared destined for TynesideEverything was agreed between player & clubPremier League champions made late playFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Magpies boss Eddie Howe and his opposite number at Anfield, Arne Slot, found themselves in the market for attacking firepower during the summer window. Newcastle required a No.9 after seeing Alexander Isak push for a move away from Tyneside.
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The Swede eventually ended up joining Liverpool in a record-breaking £125m ($169m) agreement, but only after the Reds had already added French frontman Ekitike to their ranks. That deal was done when it appeared as though Newcastle would resist any interest in Isak.
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The Magpies thought that they had won the race for Ekitike’s signature, with Manchester United also forming part of that clamour, but the highly-rated 23-year-old headed to Merseyside following a late play from Slot and Co.
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Ali Barat, who was working on Ekitike's move, has told when asked if there was a deal that left him frustrated during the last window: “Hugo Ekitike. I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle. I stayed in Germany for 10 days. We agreed everything with the German club and the player, then Liverpool called him and he chose Anfield.”