The Reds' manager did a fantastic job last season in guiding the team to Premier League glory, but this season could be trickier with so many new faces

In his first interview since arriving at Liverpool, Ekitike radiated the kind of enthusiasm that’s impossible to fabricate. Speaking to the clubs website following his inaugural training session with the Premier League champions in Hong Kong, Ekitike described the move from Eintracht Frankfurt as “perfect” in terms of timing.

Just because Liverpool could most likely afford Alexander Isak this summer, doesn’t mean they will sign the Newcastle star. After all, they have just recruited an exciting, young centre-forward who shares similar characteristics with the Swede, and a fee of £120–150 million could still dissuade them from pursuing a deal.

Ultimately, Hugo Ekitike has chosen Liverpool as his new home. He is leaving Eintracht Frankfurt having signed a six-year contract at Anfield and in a deal that could, if all conditions are met, eventually rise to about £79million ($107m), taking Liverpool’s summer expenditure to just under £300m.

Ekitike becomes the second major addition to Arne Slot’s Liverpool side this summer, following the arrival of Florian Wirtz. The Dutch manager, who led the Reds to the Premier League title in his debut season, is looking to refresh the squad without losing the human touch that has long been part of the club’s identity.

Liverpool have completed another high-profile signing this week as Hugo Ekitike has joined the Reds. Hugo Ekitike arrives as the fourth big-money signing at Anfield this summer after Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, and there could be more to come.

Luis Diaz and Wataru Endo reacted to a message from Liverpool to their new star striker Hugo Ekitike on social media.

More than any player, Ekitike somehow both reaffirms and rejects conventional wisdom and scouting biases. He's everything "dumb" clubs get wrong about transfers, and everything "smart" clubs get right.