Ekitiké was curiously assigned the No. 44 shirt after signing for PSG, indicating his minor significance, although he did enjoy run-outs with 9 and 15 in pre-season. His forgettable spell in Paris was followed up by what looks to have been a career-igniting move to Eintracht Frankfurt. Ekitiké exclusively wore No. 11 in Germany.

Ekitike, 23, had long been linked with a Premier League move, with Newcastle United and Manchester United reportedly joining Liverpool in pursuit of the Frenchman.

Liverpool appear unlikely to be successful in their pursuit of Alexander Isak, but in signing Hugo Ekitike they might have identified the next best thing to the Newcastle United forward. Gangly and quick,