Hugo Ekitike clear Karim Benzema admission hints at Liverpool transfer plan with Alexander Isak

Hugo Ekitike clear Karim Benzema admission hints at Liverpool transfer plan with Alexander Isak

Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip as Hugo Ekitike continues to enjoy an impressive start to his career at Anfield

Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Hugo Ekitike has certainly made an impressive start to his Liverpool career, and his recent comments may offer a hint about the club's potential transfer business. The striker was on target on Friday night as he scored the opening goal in the 4-2 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League.

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Ekitike also got the assist for Cody Gakpo's goal at Anfield and was named the player of the match for his Premier League debut. The performance followed his appearance in the Community Shield were he was also on the score sheet at Wembley Stadium.

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After the game, Ekitike told Sky Sports about the two players that he idolised growing up. Both players played in France during their careers, including one who won the Ballon d'Or.

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"Growing up two players (I admired) Neymar and Karim Benzema, I really loved Karim Benzema because the way he played football," Ekitike told Sky Sports on Friday night.

"What he [Benzema] did for football is my whole model as a footballer."

Ekitike modelling his game on Benzema could be a hint as to what Liverpool may have planned for the future. Benzema played a large portion of his career at Real Madrid alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Both Ronaldo and Benzema have won the Ballon d'Or during their careers, but while the pair were at Madrid it was Ronaldo who often got the bulk of the plaudits and the attention. What is interesting, though, is that Benzema has proven in spades that he is capable not only of performing as a lone striker but also in a forward pair, in effect the understudy to Ronaldo.

The Frenchman, who is a central striker by trade, often played on the left-hand side of the attack to accommodate the all-conquering Ronaldo, who himself was hitting goalscoring numbers which modern football hasn't seen before or since.

If Ekitike is modelling his game on Benzema, then could the France Under-21 international play as a centre forward and in a front two or three with another striker? If this is the case, it could offer a hint that Liverpool may be planning to partner Ekitike with Isak and Mohamed Salah, rather than have Ekitike compete for a central striker role.

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Liverpool have been heavily linked with signing Newcastle United striker Isak this summer. A £110million bid has already been rejected by the Magpies, but the Reds are still being credited with an interest in the Sweden international as Newcastle stand firm.

While Ekitike's comments are far from confirmation of any particular transfer plan, they do offer a hint as to what tactics Liverpool could use in the season ahead. Whether that leads to a fresh pursuit of Isak before the September 1 deadline remains to be seen.

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