Liverpool has won the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt -star Hugo Ekitike after Arne Slot had gone to a charm offensive to bring the Frenchman to Anfield in the midst of the Newcastle competition
Liverpool boss Arne Slot managed to win Hugo Ekitike by telling the attacker exactly how he would fit in his tactical setup in Anfield on a video call.
The Reds have won the race to make the much-sought after Eintracht Frankfurt-star, despite the competition from Newcastle. The Premier League champions have a total package of up to around £ 82 million.
It is again a huge edition to a player from the Bundesliga after sealing a British transfer record movement for Bayer Leverkusen -star Florian Wirtz, who was also impressed by the approach to Slot.
But Liverpool showed how serious they were about signing a new striker after approaching Frankfurt and committing a huge fee after Newcastle had rejected an £ 70 million bid.
Ekitike will become a member of a stars -littered team that has just won the title, but L'Equipe has detailed detailed how Slot tried to convince the Frenchman to join Liverpool with a video call and present how he would help the team in his high press.
He also explained Ekitike how he would take into account the playing style of the team while they are in possession and the possibility that he will fall deeper to get the ball – with the player “seduced” by Slot's extensive analysis.
It is claimed that Slot has been specifically referred to his 4-2-3-1 formation and how would it fit in the focal point of the system. The header explained how he sees Ekitike crucial for the evolution of their style, with a more creative and mobile number nine.
The Dutchman drew a similar conviction technique last month to land Wirtz for a huge £ 116.5 million, despite enormous interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
His father Hans-Joachim revealed that the length end was to convince Wirtz when he used a similar trick as the one he took over for Ekitike and informed the player about how he would be involved in their tactical design and how he could improve his game with the team.
“Arne Slot has impressed Florian on the field,” he said. “He is also a very pleasant person. The best coaches of Florian have always been the ones who have given him a lot of freedom.” And those with the greatest empathy have also reached Florian.
“He finds the game in England interesting because it thrives on pace and dynamics.” Arne Slot presented his feature philosophy, the team tactics in possession and urgent, and how Florian can develop his strengths in these areas.
“This made a decisive impression on Florian. The training conditions in Liverpool were also completely impressive.”