HUGO EKITIKE SUFFERS RUPTURED ACHILLES TENDON; SURGERY AND LONG-TERM REHAB EXPECTED

Hugo Ekitike is out for nine months! Discover how Liverpool and France will cope without the £79m star.

Hugo Ekitike suffers ruptured Achilles tendon; surgery and long-term rehab expected
Hugo Ekitike ruled out of the 2026 World Cup - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is set for a long spell on the sidelines after picking up a serious injury against Paris Saint-GermainHe’s out of this summer’s World Cup.

He started Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final at Anfield, facing his former club, but things took a bad turn. About half an hour in, Ekitike went down off the ball, and the sight of him being stretchered off left everyone concerned.

Medical tests didn’t bring good news. Ekitike has a ruptured Achilles tendon, which means he won’t be back for months. Reports say we won’t see him again for eight or nine months.

That kind of layoff keeps him out for the rest of this season and well into the 2026/27 campaign, with a return likely not until early 2027.

He’ll also miss the World Cup in North America. France, one of the tournament favourites, will have to get by without him. They’re in Group I with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.

For Liverpool, Ekitike’s absence is a huge blow. The club is aiming for a top-five Premier League finish to secure a spot in the Champions League for next season. After a much-needed 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, Liverpool sits fifth, four points up on Chelsea with six matches left. The Merseyside derby at Everton comes next, and Liverpool also faces Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Brentford, Manchester United, and Aston Villa.

It’s been a tough campaign already. After a heavy defeat to PSG, which knocked them out of the Champions League, the pressure has grown on manager Arne Slot. Now, with Ekitike out, there’s even more riding on Alexander Isak, who’s just coming back from a broken leg. He started against PSG but only lasted 45 minutes. Mohamed Salah, nearing a summer exit, will be counted on even more in his final months at Anfield.

Ekitike signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79 million last summer and was having a solid first season in England, with 17 goals in 45 games across all competitions. Now, Liverpool has to find a way to move forward without him.

JAMES PEARCE IDENTIFIES MAC ALLISTER, CHIESA, GOMEZ, AND JONES AS POTENTIAL SUMMER DEPARTURES

James Pearce reveals Liverpool’s transfer shortlist. From Mac Allister to Chiesa, see who is leaving Anfield in 2026.

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Four stars facing Liverpool exit after Champions League collapse - Courtesy Picture

A leading Liverpool journalist has highlighted four key first-team players who could be on their way out of Anfield this summer. Among them, it may finally be time to consider offloading Alexis Mac Allister, possibly to Real Madrid.

Following Liverpool’s 4-0 aggregate loss to PSG, manager Arne Slot openly discussed the idea that this group of players is reaching the twilight of its cycle. He described Liverpool as a club in transition, navigating the natural ebb and flow that comes with player turnover. Several of the club’s most successful figures have already left or are about to depart.

Slot mentioned that this will continue through free transfers. Mo Salah and Andrew Robertson both fall into this category, with the latter already confirmed to leave, while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure has occurred. The club needs to recover funds and reinvest, which is a familiar pattern for teams in this phase.

As has been reported, both Robertson and Salah will move on in the summer. This opens the door for recruits; for example, TEAMtalk recently revealed plans to bring in David Raum at left-back. Alongside that, a new winger is expected, with Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig currently the leading candidate.

James Pearce of The Athletic, a respected Liverpool insider, adds that beyond those departures, four more notable players might follow the exodus, reinforcing the idea that Liverpool needs “major surgery.” Fu Federico Chiesa is reportedly set to leave, while uncertainties persist over Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones, each with only a year left on their contracts.

Also under discussion is Ibrahima Konate’s future. Talks over a contract extension are ongoing, but Pearce questions whether the time might be right to cash in on Mac Allister, especially given his recent dip in form.

While Konate’s situation remains unresolved, the consensus leans toward him re-signing at Anfield. That leaves Gomez, Jones, Mac Allister, and Chiesa as the primary candidates for potential exits.

Mac Allister’s possible departure would be the biggest shock of the lot. At 27, he’s in what should be the prime of his career, having earned a spot in the PFA team of the year less than a season ago. His contract also extends further than those of Gomez and Jones, running until 2028.

Yet, his performances this Premier League season have often looked sluggish, and he’s struggled to adapt to the league’s physical demands. The shift toward a more power- and set-piece-oriented style doesn’t seem to favour his game.

Real Madrid frequently comes up in the Spanish media as a likely destination for the World Cup winner. While a transfer might have seemed unlikely last year, it now feels more plausible. The Spanish league’s emphasis on technical skill over sheer physicality could suit Mac Allister much better.

There’s also talk that a swap deal involving Mac Allister and Eduardo Camavinga isn’t out of the question.

Chiesa is expected to head back to Italy if he leaves, while Curtis Jones remains a target for Inter Milan, who showed interest earlier this year. Gomez’s next move is less clear, but if his long stint at Liverpool ends, questions will linger over where he might head.

ANDY ROBERTSON CONFIRMS LIVERPOOL EXIT; FOUR EUROPEAN GIANTS BATTLE FOR HIS SIGNATURE

Andy Robertson confirms he is leaving Liverpool. Explore his 4 potential moves to Napoli, Juventus, Spurs, or Atletico.

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Andy Robertson ends nine-year Liverpool stay - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Andy Robertson has confirmed he’s leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, bringing his nine-year run at Anfield to a close. The 32-year-old left-back will walk away as a free agent, and he’s not short of suitors; four clubs are reportedly keen to sign him.

Robertson’s time at Liverpool has been loaded with silverware: two Premier League titles, a Champions League, two League Cups, an FA Cup, plus the Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Community Shield. But things have changed for him recently. Since Liverpool signed Milos Kerkez, Robertson has struggled to get consistent minutes and has started only 15 games this season. He wanted a move over the winter but stayed put when Liverpool couldn’t find his replacement. Now, with an exit set in stone, the hunt for someplace he can play regularly is on.

Tottenham Hotspur was close to a deal in January. Robertson had reportedly agreed to terms, but Liverpool pulled the plug when they couldn’t bring in someone new. If Spurs want him this summer, they’ll have to convince him their future is stable. Relegation shouldn’t even be a possibility, but this season’s been a mess for them. If they do go down, there’s almost no chance Robertson would agree to play in the Championship.

Atletico Madrid is another option. They already tried to get Robertson last summer, probably seeing him as a perfect player for Diego Simeone’s tough, aggressive style. Atletico looks set for another season in the Champions League, and after beating Barcelona 2-0 at Camp Nou in the quarters, they’ve shown they can go deep. If Robertson wants to keep chasing big European nights, Madrid might be calling.

Juventus have their eye on him, too. The club has a long history of snapping up seasoned players on free transfers, and Robertson fits the mould. Juve is fighting just to get back into the Champions League these days, but its leadership could help lift the mood and the results in Turin. Andrea Cambiaso is their starter at left-back right now, but adding Robertson’s experience wouldn’t hurt on the pitch or in the dressing room.

Finally, there’s Napoli. They’re much closer to the title fight in Serie A, closing the gap on Inter Milan and riding a wave of five straight wins. Antonio Conte would likely see Robertson as a great option for his back-five system. The Scot has played as a wing-back and on the left side of a back three for both Liverpool and Scotland, so the fit makes sense. Plus, Napoli would give him another shot at winning trophies in a city that lives for football.

So, Robertson’s next move isn’t set yet, but wherever he goes, he brings a wealth of experience and a hunger to play every week. He’s not done winning.

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