Chelsea’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike appears to be officially over, at least for now, just before the Club World Cup registration deadline.
Tuesday marks the final day of the temporary summer transfer window before it reopens on June 16. During this tight window, several clubs, including Chelsea, have been racing to finalize deals.
While the Blues missed out on Ekitike, they did secure the signing of Leicester City striker Liam Delap for £30 million—a notable boost for Enzo Maresca’s squad.
Chelsea’s Ekitike Bid Falls Apart
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes might be feeling quietly optimistic after a fresh report from Sky Germany.
Journalist Florian Plettenberg reported via X (formerly Twitter) that Chelsea’s move for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike has officially fallen through ahead of the registration cut-off.
To clarify, Chelsea is still in contention for Ekitike, but this delay now gives Liverpool a potential upper hand in the race for his signature.
Nunez Likely Headed for Exit
Both Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez struggled to make a significant impact last season.
Jota may be at risk of being placed on the transfer list if his pre-season form doesn’t improve, while Nunez’s inconsistent performances and underwhelming goal return in 2024/25 make him a likely candidate for departure.
According to Gregg Evans of The Athletic, Liverpool is open to offers for the Uruguayan, provided interested clubs meet the valuation. Selling Nunez could free up funds to cover part of Frankfurt’s €100 million (£84.6 million) asking price for Ekitike.
How Does Ekitike Stack Up Against Jota and Nunez?
Chelsea may still be the front-runners for Ekitike, but Liverpool must keep a close eye on the talented French striker if they hope to retain their Premier League crown next season.
If the Reds are looking for a long-term replacement for Jota, Ekitike could be a smart investment.
The 22-year-old boasts promising finishing skills. Still, his goal tally last season didn’t quite match Jota’s from 2023/24, when the Portuguese forward netted 15 goals in just 1,711 minutes—an average of one goal every 114 minutes, ranking him in the 96.5th percentile for non-penalty goals (though with a slightly lower xG percentile of 78.2).
What truly sets Ekitike apart is his exceptional dribbling, a quality that could add a fresh dimension to Liverpool’s attacking options
