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Hugo Ekitike signed his first professional contract with Reims in 2020 at the age of 18 and during his time at the club spent half a season on loan at Vejle Boldklub in Denmark.

The following season he joined Paris St-Germain on a season-long loan, which was made a permanent move the following year and cost the French champions £30.6m.

Despite winning two league titles, he was loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2024 and the German club made his move permanent that summer.

Ekitike completed his first full season with Frankfurt in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 22 goals and claiming 12 assists in 48 appearances, as they secured Champions League football with a third-placed finish in the Bundesliga.

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

The starting point of Liverpool's move for Hugo Ekitike came at the end of last season.

Manager Arne Slot had persisted with Darwin Nunez for parts of the season - but it is clear he wanted an upgrade.

Liverpool's dream target was Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who was also interesting Arsenal.

But given his importance to Magpies manager Eddie Howe, and a likely asking price that would be towards £130m, Liverpool knew they needed to source alternatives.

At the same time last week, Newcastle were trying to advance with their interest in Ekitike, having a £70m offer rejected.

Less than 48 hours later, Liverpool pivoted to Ekitike in a move that probably put an end to their immediate interest in Isak and gazumped the Magpies.

• Newcastle United's initial bid of £70m for forward Hugo Ekitike was turned down by Eintracht Frankfurt last Tuesday.
• On Thursday, Liverpool swooped in for Ekitike with the Magpies adamant they would not sell their star striker, Alexander Isak, to the Reds.
• With Liverpool's offer for Ekitike expected to surpass that of Newcastle's, the Magpies cooled their interest in the Frankfurt forward.
• Ekitike was said to be open to joining the Premier League champions.
• On Monday, the Reds agreed a fee of £69m with £10m in add-ons for the Frenchman.
• The 23-year-old now has permission to travel to complete a medical and agree personal terms with the Premier League champions.

Image source, Getty Images

• With a fee agreed for striker Hugo Ekitike, the Frenchman now has permission to travel to complete a medical and agree personal terms with Liverpool.
• Should everything go to plan, the forward could join the Reds squad for their pre-season tour in Asia.
• The fee for Ekitike will be £69m with £10m in add-ons.

Liverpool have reached an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for striker Hugo Ekitike.

More to follow...

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Following the sacking of Erik ten Hag last October and the subsequent appointment of Ruben Amorim, it was assumed that Marcus Rashford had a shot at turning his Manchester United career around.

But it didn't turn out to be the case. Here's how his time under Amorim unfolded:

12 December - Rashford played in Man Utd's Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen, in what would be his last appearance for the club, although he was named in subsequent squads.

15 December - Rashford was dropped from the squad for December's Manchester derby alongside Ajejandro Garnacho for "selection" issues according to Amorim.

26 January - After a win over Fulham, Amorim stepped up his criticism of Rashford, saying he would rather play the club's 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital before selecting him.

2 February - The 27-year-old completes a loan move to fellow Premier League side Aston Villa, returning to Manchester United at the beginning of the summer.

Image source, Getty Images

We've been using the term 'bomb squad' already this morning, referring to the group of five United players whose futures lie away from Old Trafford.

Let's look at what's happening...

Marcus Rashford - As we've reported, the 27-year-old is in Spain to complete a season-long loan move to Barcelona.

Jadon Sancho - His return to the club came after Chelsea refused the chance to make his loan move permanent. There has been interest from Juventus but with no suggestion Sancho will take a pay cut, his departure is stalling.

Ajejandro Garnacho - After being pictured wearing an Aston Villa shirt with Rashford's name on the back, there has been no concrete interest in Garnacho. His name continues to be mentioned at Chelsea, Napoli and Atletico Madrid.

Antony - The Brazilian had a successful loan spell with Real Betis at the end of last season, and it is the Spanish club that want to sign him. However, Betis may not have the finances to fund a deal.

Tyrell Malacia - Having last featured for United at the end of January, Malacia has returned to the club from PSV but will depart again this summer. He has been suggested as a potential target for Celtic.

With difficulty surrounding all five players, it is expected it could take most of the transfer window for United to get deals done for all of them.

No confirmed signings to bring you so far on this Monday morning but plenty of talking points covered with plenty more to come.

Here's some of the bits we've been across:

• Your full comprehensive list of Premier League done deals so far
• What Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said about transfer target Viktor Gyokeres
• Brighton forward Evan Ferguson is having a medical with Serie A side Roma
• Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford is not in the plans of manager Daniel Farke
• Why Noni Madueke hasn't travelled with Arsenal for their Asia tour
• The best of your reaction so far

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Arsenal defender Gabriel certainly thinks they can...

The Brazilian has signed a contract that will keep him at the club until 2029 - and says he "didn't hear" about links with a move to Saudi Arabia.

The feeling around Arsenal is they are ready to take the next step, and feel confident to say publicly they are ready to lift a trophy.

"I've been at the club for five years now and I've seen how much the club has grown," said Gabriel, who was speaking before the club's pre-season tour.

"I am here to win big titles and I do believe that this season will be different. We have let a couple of titles slip through our fingers recently.

"We almost won but I think this year, things will be different. I have a lot of faith in that."

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Taking a look at that Arsenal squad depth and adding to it the expected arrival of Viktor Gyokeres - do the Gunners have enough to mount a title challenge in 2025-26?

Quick thumbs vote please...

Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has two strong elevens at his disposal following the business done so far in the summer transfer window.

That's without even mentioning young Ethan Nwaneri who showed glimpses of what he can do throughout 2024-25.

Where do the Gunners still need to improve before the window slams shut on 1 September?

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Thanks to everyone texting in and pointing out the glaring Olivier Giroud error that has now magically changed to Raheem Sterling.

It was a test and you all passed with flying colours.

Completely 110% intentional.

Ha... Haha.. ha.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter in Singapore

Mikel Arteta has not ruled out that new signings could join Arsenal on their pre-season tour as negotiations for striker Viktor Gyokeres continue.

Arsenal are in Singapore for two matches against AC Milan and Newcastle before travelling to Hong Kong for a game with rivals Tottenham Hotspur next week.

Arteta was asked whether there could be more new signings joining his 30 man squad while Arsenal are travelling.

"There's still a long time in the window. Arteta said "and we are seeking still, in terms of numbers, we are short and we have to improve the depth and quality of the squad.

"We are constantly looking in the market. Until that happens, focus on the players we have and focus on them and I'm very pleased with what I have seen in the last 10-15 days."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on the club signing eight players from Chelsea in the last 10 years: "Probably because they have some great players and a lot of players. We tried to focus on the players we want to sign regardless of the club they are in."

A reminder of those that have swapped the blue for the red in the last decade:

• Petr Cech

• David Luiz
• Willian
• Jorginho
• Kai Havertz
• Raheem Sterling
• Kepa Arrizabalaga
• Noni Madueke

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter in Singapore

Arsenal play AC Milan in Singapore on Wednesday in the first match of their pre-season tour.

At his first news conference of the tour, Mikel Arteta said that the new signings have brought an excitement to the squad.

The Gunners have included Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga, while Noni Madueke has been left in England to rest.

"It’s like shaking the tree again. Bringing new faces, they bring new excitement, new energy as well.

"We signed very important players as well. I think everybody feels that the heights have to go to a different level and it’s what we are seeking."

Image source, Getty Images

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that Arsenal's latest signing Noni Madueke hasn't made the 30-man squad for the side's Asia tour.

New signings Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi are all involved while Madueke has remained in England.

The winger will join his new team-mates upon their return home after being given a rest period due to his involvement with Chelsea in the Fifa Club World Cup.