LONDON — Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool’s electrifying 23-year-old striker, has sent shockwaves through the Premier League with a brutally honest explanation for rejecting Newcastle United and Manchester United in July. In a candid interview with LFC News and Views, the French forward, who has already notched five goals and an assist in five appearances for the Reds, didn’t hold back when asked why he turned down both clubs’ advances. “I was told Newcastle were interested, and honestly, I was disappointed. I’ve been working so hard, and smaller clubs like Newcastle wanted me. I quickly told everyone I only want Liverpool,” Ekitike declared. The remarks, laced with unapologetic ambition, have ignited a firestorm among Newcastle and United fans, exposing raw tensions over club prestige and transfer market pecking orders in a season where Liverpool sit atop the table.
Ekitike’s comments stem from a frenetic July transfer saga that saw him emerge as one of Europe’s most coveted talents after a stellar 2024-25 Bundesliga campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt, where he scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 33 games. Newcastle, reeling from the imminent £120 million sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool, targeted Ekitike as their marquee replacement, tabling a club-record €80 million (£69.5 million) bid on July 15. Eddie Howe, backed by his nephew and recruitment aide Andy Howe, saw the 6ft 3in Frenchman as a stylistic heir to Isak, blending physicality with Mbappé-esque dribbling flair. Talks progressed, with personal terms verbally agreed during a meeting in Austria, but Frankfurt’s demand for €90 million (£78 million) upfront clashed with Newcastle’s Profit and Sustainability Rules constraints, stalling negotiations.
Manchester United entered the fray late, with new boss Ruben Amorim eyeing Ekitike to bolster an attack that’s faltered amid a 14th-place start. Despite Ekitike’s childhood admiration for United—he grew up idolizing their Sir Alex Ferguson era—the club’s €75 million approach was swiftly rebuffed. “Man United was my favorite club as a kid,” Ekitike admitted, before adding a dagger: “But as soon as Liverpool came in, it was done. No hesitation.” Chelsea also made a late push, presenting tactical plans to lure the striker, but Ekitike’s camp instructed Frankfurt to deal only with Liverpool. By July 23, the Reds sealed an €80 million (£69 million) deal, potentially rising to €95 million (£82.4 million) with add-ons, capitalizing on their Champions League revenue and the sales of fringe players to outmuscle rivals.
Ekitike’s rationale was clear: Liverpool’s project under Arne Slot trumped all. The Dutch manager personally outlined a hybrid role for Ekitike, blending central striking with wide versatility to complement Mohamed Salah and £125 million signing Florian Wirtz. “I always played outside with friends at school,” Ekitike noted, embracing Slot’s fluid system. “Liverpool showed interest in January, but I waited. Playing with Salah and Wirtz? That’s the level.” His integration has been seamless, with five goals in five games, including a shirt-off celebration that earned a red card in a 2-1 win over Southampton. Liverpool’s 13-point haul and Opta’s 28.5% title probability underscore the wisdom of his choice.
The fallout, however, has been seismic. Newcastle fans, already stung by Isak’s departure and a third failed pursuit of Ekitike since 2022, erupted at his “smaller clubs” slight. “Smaller? We’ve spent £400 million and hit Europe three years running,” raged a viral X post from @MagpieJoe_, racking up 36,000 views. The Magpies, now banking on Benjamin Šeško, feel cursed after missing out on targets like João Pedro and Liam Delap in recent windows. United supporters, meanwhile, are grappling with Ekitike’s dismissal of their boyhood allure. “He loved United, then picks Liverpool the second they call? Ouch,” posted @shaunconnolly85, whose thread on United’s transfer strategy drew 35,000 engagements. Pundit Julien Laurens fanned the flames, tweeting: “Newcastle out, United and Chelsea in—but Ekitike’s heart was Anfield. Frankfurt got €80m+, everyone else got burned.”
Ekitike’s remarks reflect a cold truth about the Premier League’s hierarchy. Newcastle’s Saudi-backed ambition and United’s storied legacy couldn’t match Liverpool’s current pull as reigning champions. His five-goal blitz, including a match-winner against Southampton, validates his choice, but the “smaller clubs” jab has left scars. On Tyneside, it’s a call to arms for Howe’s men, who face Tottenham next in a chance to prove their mettle. At Old Trafford, it’s another blow to a fanbase reeling from a 3-1 loss to Brentford. For Ekitike, it’s business as usual: his loyalty lies with Anfield, and the shockwaves are just the price of ambition in a ruthless title race.
