Liverpool boss Arne Slot has shed light on how Hugo Ekitike might fit into his plans — even if Alexander Isak joins the club.
Ekitike arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt last month and made a dream start, scoring just four minutes into his debut in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace. He led the line in a front three alongside Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, with Florian Wirtz pulling strings just behind.
With Liverpool still pursuing Newcastle striker Isak, Slot told *Sky Sports* he doesn’t see Ekitike solely as a traditional No. 9. The 23-year-old, he explained, has the versatility to play across different attacking roles, offering flexibility to the team’s forward setup.
Liverpool’s £110 million bid for Isak was rejected, and while the Swede has refused to play or train for Newcastle — even moving out of his home to force a transfer — there’s been no fresh progress in negotiations.
Isak won’t feature when Liverpool host Bournemouth on Friday for the Premier League opener, but in Ekitike, Slot already has a hungry, capable option to spearhead the attack while the transfer saga plays out.
