Liverpool given honest verdict on Hugo Ekitike after £79m move – “The quality has dropped”

Liverpool have been thrilled with Hugo Ekitike’s influence since his summer arrival, though the £79 million transfer has had ripple effects elsewhere. The Reds secured the French forward from Eintracht Frankfurt after a busy window that saw them spend over £450 million overall.

Ekitike, who impressed with 26 goals and 14 assists in 64 appearances for Frankfurt, attracted strong Premier League interest before Liverpool beat Newcastle to his signature. Since joining, the 23-year-old has already started to justify his hefty £69m (€80m) fee plus £10m (€12.5m) in add-ons, scoring six goals and providing one assist in 15 games to become Arne Slot’s first-choice striker ahead of Alexander Isak.

While Liverpool celebrate his impact, Frankfurt have had to adapt to life without their former talisman. The Bundesliga side, who finished third last season, also lost Omar Marmoush to Manchester City for £59m in January, after both players ended last season as joint top scorers.

Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung acknowledged that such departures have taken a toll on the team’s overall strength. “It’s clear that when you say goodbye to players like Kolo Muani or Ekitike, your quality drops,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “You can’t keep them—there’s little to discuss—no matter how ambitious we are.”

Accepting their role in football’s transfer hierarchy, Frankfurt remain committed to discovering and developing new talent. “The answer is simple: find and train others,” Hardung explained. “If you can maintain balance and overcome the challenges at the start of each cycle, you can reproduce success on the pitch.”

Currently sitting eighth in the Bundesliga and struggling in Europe with just one win from four Champions League fixtures, Frankfurt continue to focus on long-term player development. “There’s no secret formula,” Hardung added. “It’s a team effort—identify young talent, bring them in under the right conditions, make them feel comfortable, and give them space to grow and learn.”