H. Ekitike news
Barcola in, Gakpo out? Your Liverpool squad tweaks
Kev: I think we should bring in Alex Scott and ship out Alexis Mac Allister. Zaid: I think Cody Gakpo should leave because he won't play as much since we have Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, but he will still go for a good £75m. James: I believe we should move on and let Cody Gakpo go and we should go for Bradley Barcola after his amazing performances at the World Cup.
Iraola determined to keep Mac Allister and Alisson at Liverpool this season
Coach aims to strengthen with Ekitiké and Bradley outMac Allister has been linked with move to Real MadridAndoni Iraola has said he is determined to keep Alexis Mac Allister and Alisson for his first season as Liverpool head coach and must strengthen a squad that will be without Hugo Ekitiké and Conor Bradley for several more months.The dust had barely settled on Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Spain when Mac Allister was linked with a move to Real Madrid. Iraola, in Chicago for the start of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US, accepted the midfielder is unlikely to be 100% ready for the Premier League opener at Newcastle due to a post-World Cup holiday. But he allayed doubts over Mac Allister’s long-term future at Liverpool, where he is under contract until 2028, by insisting the 27-year-old is part of next season’s plans. Continue reading...
Spain hero Ferran Torres reportedly nears a transfer from Barcelona to PSG within less than two weeks margin
In the middle of a very tight match, Ferran Torres led Spain to victory over Argentina, firing a superb shot. Following this, the 26-year-old striker is reportedly moving closer to a transfer to PSG, which is looking to complete his arrival within the next two weeks. Ferran Torres arrived at the 2026 World Cup with his future very much up in the air, as his contract expires in 2027 and he has not renewed it yet. Despite being a substitute in several matches, he cemented his place in Spain’s history by scoring the winning goal against Argentina. After this, the 26-year-old striker has attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain, which is looking to complete his signing from Barcelona in less than two weeks. According to Luis Miguel Sanz, via Diario Sport, Ferran Torres is an absolute priority for PSG, at the express request of head coach Luis Enrique. After the sale of Gonçalo Ramos, the 26-year-old striker would occupy the role of backup striker, alternating with Ousmane Dembélé. With a higher salary offer, he is tempted to leave, and the French side hopes to complete the deal in less than two weeks. Despite PSG’s interest in signing him, Barcelona are reportedly already pushing to complete Ferran Torres’ contract renewal. With his contract running until 2027, he is entering the final year of his deal. However, he is reportedly not very happy with the way he has been treated, as they had promised to renew his contract alongside Jules Koundé. Therefore, he would be looking to leave the club, either this summer or as a free agent. Ferran Torres could be tempted to leave Barcelona not only because of the salary increase. Luis Enrique’s presence is essential to his decision. During his time as Spain head coach, the 26-year-old striker was the first-choice option up front, filling him with confidence. Therefore, he would be willing to play under him again, looking to reach his best version and fight for a starting spot. Ferran Torres #7 of Spain celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal. Not only PSG: Ferran Torres is reportedly on Liverpool’s radar After his major impact off the bench at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ferran Torres has further established as a world-class player. Both Barcelona and PSG are battling strongly over his professional future. However, the 26-year-old striker has attracted the attention of Liverpool, which is looking to strengthen its attack. Therefore, he could make a return to the Premier League, aiming to become a starter in the immediate future. Neither PSG nor Barcelona seem able to guarantee Ferran Torres a starting role, leaving the financial aspect as the main difference. Therefore, Liverpool have expressed interest in securing the signing of the Spanish striker, reports Loïc Tanzi, via L’Equipe. With this in mind, the 26-year-old star could decide his future based on the level of prominence he is offered, as he has been a substitute for several years. Ferran Torres is coming off a very solid 2025-26 season with Barcelona. Beyond his performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he managed to score 21 goals and provide three assists. Therefore, his arrival at Liverpool would be key to strengthening the team’s goalscoring output, as Hugo Ekitike will be sidelined for several months. In addition, he can play on both wings, which would make him a key player for head coach Andoni Iraola.
Iraola on joining Reds, Elliott's future and transfer business
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment. The Spaniard wants to give supporters "a team they can be proud of" and he plans to do that by being a side "that works hard, is intense, is aggressive, so everyone can be identified and everyone can feel comfortable supporting this team". Iraola confirmed Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are expected to be sidelined through injury for the beginning of the season.
Liverpool’s Ekitike accepting challenge of long injury rehabilitation
Hugo Ekitike's debut season at Liverpool was cut short after rupturing his Achilles, but he is determined to return better than ever. The post Liverpool’s Ekitike accepting challenge of long injury rehabilitation appeared first on SoccerNews.
Why Kolo Muani is missing the 2026 World Cup for France
France have become one of the top contenders for the 2026 World Cup. To achieve this, head coach Didier Deschamps has carried out a generational overhaul compared to the 2022 squad, keeping stars such as Kylian Mbappé, but leaving out Randal Kolo Muani. For a third consecutive edition, France emerge as a top contender for the World Cup. Under head coach Didier Deschamps, they have completed a highly competitive generational transition, retaining top-level stars such as Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé. However, head coach has also left out players who were part of the 2022 squad, with Kolo Muani being a notable absence in attack. Kolo Muani has been left out of France’s roster for the 2026 World Cup due to tactical decisions. Despite having played for Tottenham Hotspur, he has not managed to establish as one of the team’s top scorers. In the 41 matches he has played, he has only managed to score 5 goals and provide 4 assists, disappointing many. Not being in his best form, head coach Didier Deschamps has decided to rely on players in better condition. After his inconsistent performances, Kolo Muani’s future does not seem entirely clear. Despite having played for Tottenham Hotspur on loan, they are reportedly determined not to sign him permanently, sending him back to PSG. Upon his return, head coach Luis Enrique does not seem to count on him, so he is reportedly close to joining Juventus. Despite Hugo Ekitike’s injury, Randal Kolo Muani did not return to France for the 2026 World Cup. In his most recent games with Les Bleus, he was quite disappointing, coming off the bench against Brazil and playing only 27 minutes against Colombia. His last two 90-minute games with the national team were in October and November 2024 in the UEFA Nations League. If he manages to regain his stability, he could compete for a place at UEFA Euro 2028. Randal Kolo Muani of France runs with the ball. Who has taken Kolo Muani spot in France’s 2026 World Cup roster? Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, France head coach Didier Deschamps has decided to carry out a revolution, incorporating Michael Olise and Désiré Doué as the focal points of the attack. While Hugo Ekitike was expected to be a key part of the team, he suffered a serious injury. With that situation, Randal Kolo Muani seemed to emerge as the ideal replacement for the squad. However, he was not included, leaving the spot to Jean-Philippe Mateta. Unlike Kolo Muani, Jean-Philippe Mateta is one of the best forwards in the Premier League. Despite having knee issues, he played 32 matches, scoring 12 goals with Crystal Palace. Because of this, he took his place as the backup striker to Mbappé, who remains the starter. However, he cannot play as a right winger, so Maghnes Akliouche was called up to cover both wings or the attacking midfield role as a backup. If Randal Kolo Muani wants to return to France, he needs to find a team where he can be a regular starter. In addition, he would need to recover the goal-scoring prowess he had at Eintracht Frankfurt. However, he faces direct competition from Hugo Ekitike, who is emerging as one of the fixed players of the future in attack due to his strong current form at Liverpool.
Expect more attacking signings
Last summer, it was Hugo Ekitike who chose Liverpool over Newcastle before Alexander Isak forced a move from Newcastle to Liverpool. The tale of Victor Munoz follows a similar pattern, with Liverpool hijacking Newcastle's move by triggering his release clause with Osasuna.
