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.
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is set for a long spell on the sidelines after picking up a serious injury against Paris Saint-Germain. He’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.
WHY IS LIVERPOOL HESITATING TO HIRE XABI ALONSO DESPITE OVERWHELMING FAN SUPPORT?
Liverpool has contacted Real Madrid to investigate Xabi Alonso’s tenure, as pressure grows on current manager Arne Slot at Anfield.
Liverpool have reached out to Real Madrid to ask about Xabi Alonso, but honestly, there’s some debate going on behind the scenes. People have been talking about Alonso stepping in at Anfield, especially since Arne Slot’s season hasn’t gone over well. Fans let out some boos after that 1-1 draw with Chelsea, and the mood is pretty tense. Even though Slot led Liverpool to a league title last year, quite a few supporters seem fed up with him and would rather see Alonso take charge.
But Spanish outlet AS says Liverpool have contacted Real Madrid to get the inside scoop on what happened during Alonso’s time at the club. It sounds like the decision-makers at Liverpool are starting to feel unsure about him, and they might actually stick with Slot for another season.
Alonso landed the Real Madrid job last summer after doing wonders at Bayer Leverkusen. Still, just six months in, Madrid let him go, reportedly because the locker room was falling apart. Liverpool’s relationship with Real Madrid is strong, and they apparently want some honest feedback – kind of like asking for a reference from a past employer, which isn’t unusual.
Liverpool’s spot in next year’s Champions League is almost locked in, but with two games left, it’s not guaranteed yet. When asked about the boos, Slot admitted he has some work to do to win fans over.
He said, “Not this season. Fans won’t change their minds now. But if we get the summer we’re planning, I’m convinced we’ll be a different team next season. Results, style, everything. It’s not always easy, though. Sometimes you know what needs fixing, but getting what you want isn’t so simple. This season, it’s been pretty clear what we’re missing. We’re trying to solve it, but one issue is simply having enough fit players. Still, our guys show every week in the second half that they’re giving everything they’ve got.”
PREMIER LEAGUE ALERT: LIVERPOOL MONITORING MBAPPE AS REAL MADRID RELATIONSHIP HITS BREAKING POINT
Is the Madrid dream over? Real Madrid may open the door for Mbappe's exit as Premier League giants prepare massive financial bids.
Kylian Mbappe has recently caught the attention of several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, amid the ongoing issues at Real Madrid, according to sources shared with StadiumNest.
At 27, Mbappé has found himself at the centre of various conflicts involving staff and teammates at Los Blancos. These tensions have fuelled talk of significant changes within the squad.
Amid this unrest, a petition calling for Mbappe to leave Madrid has been circulating and has gathered over 30 million signatures.
As discussed on the latest Football Insider Transfer Insider podcast, Premier League teams are closely monitoring the situation, ready to make a move if Real Madrid decides to let Mbappe go.
Though a transfer still seems unlikely at this stage, some of the Premier League’s wealthiest clubs are alert to the possibility, with Liverpool potentially considering him as a target.
Wasn’t Liverpool already linked to Mbappe before?
Yes, back in 2023, Football Insider reported that Liverpool showed interest in Mbappe before he eventually joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
While multiple English clubs explored bringing him over, Mbappe initially had his sights set solely on Madrid. However, the relationship there seems to have become strained.
On the pitch, the season has been turbulent, and behind the scenes, the conflicts have only added to concerns with Mbappe involved in several incidents.
During the Transfer Insider podcast, I pointed out, "I'm pretty sure Liverpool and others would jump at the chance to sign Mbappe. He’s undeniably one of the world’s top players.
“There’s been a lot of drama around him this season, coupled with Real Madrid’s current issues.
“Landing him would be a dream for the Premier League because he’s arguably football’s biggest star right now. It’d be exciting to see him in England.
“Of course, it would mean a massive financial commitment. Between transfer fees and wages, only a handful of clubs could handle that.
“But if Real Madrid do open the door, expect the Premier League’s top clubs to make their case. Opportunities to sign a player like Mbappe don’t come along often.”
Why might Liverpool consider bringing Mbappe in?
Liverpool have been among the Premier League’s biggest spenders, breaking their own transfer record twice just last summer, putting them among the few clubs with the financial muscle to afford Mbappe.
Beyond his star power and goal-scoring prowess, the Reds are facing concerns over their striking options this summer.
Football Insider reported on April 17 that Liverpool is planning to add a striker. Hugo Ekitike won’t be available until 2027 due to an Achilles injury.
Meanwhile, Alexander Isak, their record signing from Newcastle, has struggled to find consistent form and fitness early on at Anfield.
As a result, Liverpool is exploring several possible striker additions. While a massive investment seems unlikely, the chance to sign someone like Mbappe might be too tempting to ignore.
