Arsenal fans have a lot to say about Hugo Ekitike’s imminent move to Liverpool

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal are set to miss out on Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, who is close to joining Liverpool.

The Gunners’ priority this summer was to add a striker to Mikel Arteta’s ranks, with Ekitike one of the names most prominently linked, alongside the likes of Ollie Watkins, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.

Gyokeres is set to sign for Arsenal for £63 million, as Andrea Berta ultimately opted for the more established, win-now acquisition.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are advancing in negotiations with Ekitike, much to the dismay of some Gunners supporters.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Arsenal fans react to Hugo Ekitike’s imminent Liverpool move

Ekitike enjoyed an excellent 2024/25 season for Frankfurt, netting 22 goals and providing 12 assists across all competitions.

This form has sparked interest from a host of clubs throughout Europe, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United.

Liverpool approached Newcastle about Isak this week, but were told that the Swede isn’t for sale, and this rejection has prompted the Merseysiders to move for Ekitike.

The Arsenal fanbase had a lot to say about the news that the Frenchman is Anfield-bound, with some expressing concern about how the player could help Liverpool next season.

One fan wrote on X: “Would be quite sad if Liverpool sign Ekitike, but it’s definitely an easier pill to swallow than them getting Isak. There’s so much to love about his game; his quick feet, his combination play, the way he moves around the pitch – his finishing will click eventually.”

Another added: “Some of you guys gonna be shocked at how good Ekitike is.”

Another fan jokingly suggested that Newcastle should now sell Isak to Arsenal because of the Ekitike fiasco: “Newcastle United have every right to be offended by that approach from Liverpool. ‘Isak or Ekitike.’ The audacity. The Geordies should do the right thing and sell Isak to Arsenal for a cut-price. Send Liverpool a message.”

Meanwhile, one Arsenal supporter reacted differently to the news, questioning how the saga is being painted as a Liverpool ‘masterclass’.

They wrote: “So Newcastle get to keep Isak, which is what they wanted, and have successfully inflated the Ekitike fee at the same time, forcing Liverpool to overpay. In what world was this a Liverpool masterclass?”

Hugo Ekitike would’ve been an exceptional signing for Arsenal

While he’s still raw and has some areas of his game that need improving, Ekitike is one of the most exciting talents on the market and would’ve represented an exceptional signing for Arsenal.

Arsenal only ever saw Ekitike as a ‘Plan C’ to Gyokeres and Sesko, but he arguably would’ve been the best move for them.

Ekitike is outstanding at peeling out wide and dribbling or carrying the ball into dangerous spaces, while his movement in and around the box is also exceptional.

Scoring more goals and putting up better underlying numbers than Sesko, he was quite clearly the superior option to the Slovenian.

As for Gyokeres, while Ekitike’s surface-level statistics weren’t as eye-catching as his Swedish counterpart, some of his advanced data was as good last season.

Gyokeres is certainly the safer bet, but Ekitike’s upside is much higher, and given Kai Havertz is still at Arteta’s disposal, it made sense to pursue the potential superstar.