Liverpool is one of the best European teams linked to Hugo Ekitike this summer, but Chelsea has performed their efforts to sign the France under-21st star
Chelsea is said to have stolen a Mars on Liverpool in the race to bring Hugo Ekitike to the Premier League by talking to Eintracht Frankfurt about a deal for the Frenchman.
The blues belong to a number of top side of the top that are looking for a new NR .9 this summer and have, just like the newly beaten Premier League champions, set their sights on Ekitike after watching the 22-year-old break the 20-goal barrier for Frankfurt last season.
Liverpool is ready to replace Darwin Nunez with a new frontman because they offer to build on winning the title under Arne Slot in the first season of the Dutchman.
And although the Reds have finished well above Chelsea in the past term, a new report from L'Equipe has revealed that the Londoners 'performed' their efforts to close their rivals for a deal for Ekitike.
It is said that Chelsea is now 'clear' in their attempts to sign the former striker of Paris Saint-Germain, which was appreciated by Frankfurt at £ 60 million.
The blues are still looking for a new broadcast to spear their front line next season, despite the closing of a £ 30 million deal for Liam Delap from Ipswich Town.
As it looks now, Delap, 22, will compete with Nicolas Jackson for a start spot under Enzo Maresca. But with the blues back in the Champions League next year, they are pushing hard to add Ekitike to their growing pool of attackers.
Landing of the France under-21st would be a huge coup for Chelsea, which finished fourth in the Premier League and the Europa Conference League won in the Maiden campaign of Maresca.
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Axel Hellmann, a board member of Frankfurt and the former Chief Executive of the club, who recently confirmed that there was a strong interest from Premier League in Ekitike, speculating that 'half' the clubs in the highest flight of England. He said: “I would like to have him in Frankfurt for another ten years, if possible.
“But we are realistic. He is currently one of the best players with a high potential in Europe and he is only 22. That means he has a big future.
“He is a smart guy. He likes listening and learning. I would love it that he will stay for a few years. But the market is the market and half of the Premier League clubs are interested in signing him.”