Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller has all but confirmed Hugo Ekitike is set to join Liverpool this summer.
Liverpool, who have already signed Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez to bolster a Premier League title-winning squad, are expected to wrap up a deal for the France U21 international after an outline of an agreement was reached with the Bundesliga outfit.
According to the Athletic, the Reds have made an offer of £69m plus add-ons which means the total package of the deal could rise to £78m.
However, Frankfurt are said to be holding out for £86m which would represent a record sale for the German side, surpassing the £82.3m fee received for Randal Kolo Muani when he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
There appears to be a resignation from Frankfurt’s side that Ekitike will make the move to Anfield in the coming days after he was absent from the squad that lost a pre-season friendly to FSV Frankfurt on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Toppmoller described Ekitike’s imminent exit as a “bitter loss”.
"He didn't play, but you can imagine everything else," Toppmoller said, "This is a bitter loss.
"We lost our absolute top player in the winter with Omar Marmoush.
"The other player stepped in and developed sensationally. It's quite possible that that's history, too.
"So I think we need to temper expectations a bit overall."
German publication Sport Bild reported earlier in the week that the Frenchman has apparently already agreed terms on a six-year contract until 2031.
