Liverpool 'ready to rival' Chelsea for blockbuster £84m Hugo Ekitike transfer

Liverpool have joined the race to sign Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike with Chelsea also keen on the £84m-rated Frenchman as the Reds plot their summer recruitment

Liverpool have entered the race to sign Frankfurt frontman Hugo Ekitike - who is valued at £84million by the German side. Talks have already taken place with Arne Slot an admirer of the Frenchman.

The Reds have wasted no time in conducting their summer business and look ready to spend big. Jeremie Frimpong's signing is close whilst they remain in talks over a £100m plus swoop for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.

Now Ekitike has emerged as a target with Sky Germany reporting that Chelsea are also keen on the 22-year-old, who has blossomed since leaving PSG. He's just posted his best goalscoring season to date, breaking the 20-goal barrier for the first time.

Frankfurt are yet to receive an offer but their sporting director, Markus Krosche, has opened the door to his exit from Deutsche Bank Park insisting that they will allow players to leave if they feel they've outgrown the environment.

"He's one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that," the club chief told Sport 1. "I'm glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that's our motto: If a player develops faster than us, we let him go."

Frankfurt have shown they have an eye for a striker with their recruitment helping them to a third place finish and Champions League football. Back in January they allowed Omar Marmoush to leave and move to the Premier League when Manchester City paid them £59m.

Liverpool are on the lookout for more firepower as they look to ease the burden on Mohamed Salah. After a very quiet summer 12 months ago Slot, having led the Reds to the Premier League title, is ready to ramp up the team's recruitment.

Their desire to bolster their frontline comes with several individuals facing uncertain futures. Darwin Nunez has been unable to convince during his time at Liverpool and is thought to be of interest in Saudi Arabia. Luis Diaz is also in contract talks over his Anfield future.

Slot recently addressed the club's summer plans and told the Sky Sports : "I don't know if it's going to be a lot but we know, the club, Richard [Hughes], the ownership, we are all aligned on what we are trying to achieve. It is already very, very positive that we kept Mo and Virgil and a few others that we are trying to sign look positive."