Liverpool and Newcastle United are both interested in signing Hugo Ekitike this summer.

The striker market has come to life in this window after a fairly quiet June. Multiple clubs are looking for a new number nine, and some big names are involved.

TBR Football exclusively revealed that Newcastle are worried about Liverpool entering the race to sign Ekitike, who is a player that the Magpies have been tracking for several years.

Now, the striker’s preference has come to light.

Hugo Ekitike’s preferred club out of Liverpool and Newcastle United

Hugo Ekitike is one of the big names in this summer’s transfer window.

The Frenchman may not have made the same kind of noise that Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko have, but his name will be high when the list of the biggest moves of the summer comes out at the end of the window in September.

Newcastle have been in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt to sign Ekitike for a few days now, and they are really keen to land him.

Liverpool, who made an approach for Alexander Isak, have also contacted the German club to be informed of the Ekitike situation.

Now, Jan Aage Fjortoft has revealed what he has heard about the striker’s preference.

He said on ESPN FC: “What I do hear is that Ekitike is not for sale, but we know the strategy of Eintracht Frankfurt.

“They signed Muani to PSG for €95+5 million, they sold Marmoush to Manchester City for €80 million. His (Ekitike’s) price tag now is €100 million. He is being the joker in the Liverpool-Newcastle thing.

“If Liverpool can’t get Isak, maybe they will go for Ekitike. What I do understand is that the player prefers to play for Liverpool.

“But, he is very relaxed because he knows he can play in the Champions League with Eintracht Frankfurt, and Eintracht Frankfurt, for the first time in a long, long time, they don’t have to sell because they have already done that with Champions League qualification and the sales of Marmoush and Muani.

“But I can tell you, Ekitike prefers Liverpool Football Club.”

Hugo Ekitike vs Alexander Isak stats in 2024/25

Isak is up there with the best strikers in the world today.

The Newcastle United star has been incredible, and he is good enough to play for any of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Ekitike is of a similar profile to Isak, and his numbers are not bad at all.

Looking at the numbers above, it should be no surprise that both Liverpool and Newcastle United are keen to sign Ekitike.

The 23-year-old has all the qualities you would want in a centre-forward, and he has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the world in the coming years.

Ekitike’s preference for Liverpool over Newcastle is a boost to the Reds, but the Toon cannot be ruled out of the race just yet.