Liverpool will be without the injured Hugo Ekitike for the start of next season, and the Reds have been told there could be the perfect replacement ready to move to the Premier League
Hugo Ekitike will miss the start of next season for Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool has been told it needs to find a replacement for Hugo Ekitike, and Victor Osimhen has been touted as the perfect option.
Ekitike will miss the start of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during the Champions League quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain last month. No timeframe has yet been given on a potential return for the striker, although it could be a long layoff.
The French international’s absence comes as a big blow, with Ekitike impressing following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. The big question now for Liverpool will be whether it looks to sign someone to replace him for next season.
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Arne Slot already admitted that the Reds’ transfer business will be influenced by Ekitike’s injury, and former Chelsea star Florent Malouda said the 23-year-old will need replacing.
“Hugo Ekitike’s injury is unfortunate, but that’s the life of top players,” Malouda told Snabbare. “You compete in very intense games and there’s always a risk of injury.
“The most important thing is for him to get proper treatment and to think long-term about how to deal with his injury. He needs to fully recover from this big injury. We just wish him a good recovery. There are many options for the French squad.
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“For Liverpool I’d be more worried, it’s a bigger blow because they were very dependent on his performances. They will have to look for a replacement in the near future.”
Malouda thinks Galatasaray striker Osimhen could be the answer for Liverpool. The 27-year-old has been linked with a transfer this summer, despite only making the permanent move to Istanbul last year.
“Victor Osimhen can perform in the Premier League,” Malouda said. “When you look at his mindset, his character, and his passion for the game, I think he belongs in the Premier League.
Victor Osimhen has been linked with a move away from Galatasaray this summer(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
“Where would he fit? Each club has a different story, a different budget, contract conditions, and situations.
“But I think that’s what’s missing in his career now. He’s done great in Italy, in France, and now in Turkey. I think his next step is the Premier League and the Champions League, where he can play in a team that can win it.
“I would say Chelsea and maybe Liverpool are the clubs that would suit him way better than Manchester United. He is very energetic, he’s a leader, he is the kind of player that the fans would love.”