Ekitike is the new target at Liverpool's summer offensive!

Liverpool, having comfortably secured the Premier League title with a ten-point lead over Arsenal, is now making swift moves in the summer transfer market as manager Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes implement their vision for the squad. Their early league triumph has allowed the club to accelerate its transfer plans, with several high-profile targets already in motion.

Jeremie Frimpong, the dynamic Bayer Leverkusen full-back, is reportedly in England to finalize his transfer after successfully completing his medical last week. He could soon be joined by his Leverkusen teammate, the highly-rated attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, with a deal for the Germany international understood to be progressing well after Liverpool submitted an offer exceeding €100 million. Additionally, Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez is set to bolster the left-back position, with personal terms reportedly agreed with the Hungarian international.

With these three significant defensive and midfield additions taking shape, Liverpool's attention has now sharply turned towards securing a new striker for the upcoming season. While Newcastle United's Alexander Isak was previously considered a dream target, the Magpies' Champions League qualification effectively ended any faint hopes of that move materializing.

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Reliable Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg now indicates that Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is Liverpool's "next big target" from the Bundesliga. The 21-year-old forward has enjoyed a prolific season, netting 22 goals across all competitions. Plettenberg confirmed that "talks have taken place" and that both Slot and Hughes are keen on the player. The Reds, however, face stiff competition from Chelsea for Ekitike's signature. Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, is reportedly holding out for a substantial €100 million fee, though no official offer has yet been submitted.

Liverpool has withdrawn from Xavi Simons race

In other transfer news, Liverpool has reportedly withdrawn from the race to sign RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons. According to German publication Bild, the Reds are "out of the running in light of the upcoming signing of Florian Wirtz," suggesting a strategic decision to consolidate their attacking midfield options.

Manager Arne Slot remained somewhat coy when recently questioned about his transfer plans, stating he is "very happy with the squad that we have." However, he also emphasized the club's unified approach to strengthening. "I don’t know if it’s going to be a lot but we know, the club, Richard [Hughes], the ownership, we are all aligned on what we are trying to achieve," Slot told Sky Sports. He expressed satisfaction about retaining key players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, adding, "This club has always shown that if they can strengthen, that’s what we do. Big summer or not, it is already big because we won the league."

Liverpool's proactive stance in the transfer market, targeting high-impact players like Ekitike, clearly signals their intent to build on their Premier League success and prepare for challenges across all competitions next season.