Hugo Ekitike on why he ignored Manchester United and where he will play for Liverpool

Ekitike

Chelsea had a little look. Newcastle United made an offer. And Manchester United attempted a hijack.

But for Hugo Ekitike, there was only ever going to be one destination after Liverpool expressed an interest in his signature.

Ekitike

"For me that was the right choice,"

"The way the club works, what I have heard about the people here, the atmosphere, the fans, the stadium, the way they improve players, already champions of the Premier League.

“It’s the best team in England and one of the best teams in the world. So yeah, it was Liverpool."

Ekitike became the seventh new arrival of a busy summer for Liverpool when he completed an initial £69million move from Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.

For the Reds, it brought an end to a pursuit that began back with contact with the player's camp in January and was accelerated by Newcastle making an attempted move last week.

A meeting with Arne Slot, though, sealed the deal.

Ekitike

"Since I talked to the coach, in my head I was sure about it,"

"When you see a coach that can make and improve players, you know you want to be with him and progress because you know he can make you go to the next step. And if you want to go higher I think it’s the right choice to do.

"We had a very good first discussion together. Obviously the coach is very human so we could talk not only about football (but) about everything.

"I find him very interesting and I was very pleased to see what I can do with him because I think he is a really nice guy and I can still improve and progress with him.

So, yeah, he is a really good coach and good person first, so that’s why he made me want to come here."

While Ekitike, who began his career at Reims before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, bolstered his reputation during an 18-month stay with Frankfurt by operating as a central striker, Liverpool view the 23-year-old as a more versatile attacking option.

with the Reds interested in a move for Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, the new arrival has no qualms over where he is used.

Ekitike

"I mean, I do what the coach asks me to do!" . "But yeah, I like to do everything.

“I can’t define myself only as a striker (who likes) to finish: I like to play, I like to be in the game, in the collective part of play (and) create also.

"So, I can do both – I can play alone and I like to play also with another striker and I think that’s what makes me versatile, but you know now in this football you need to adapt."

Ekitike adds: "I always have been playing outside with my friends at school and I have been watching a lot.

"My favourite player is a player who likes to have the ball at their feet and does some skills, show on the pitch, and I think that’s why I always like to play with the ball and do some skills when I face other players. It’s just my way to play."

The arrival for the Frenchman has taken Liverpool's spending this summer to almost £300m as Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes look to improve on the squad that romped to the Premier League title last season.

Ekitike says:

"You see the players on the team, obviously we have so much quality in this team.

“It’s just a pleasure to play with such good players. I want to do more to be at the same level and even better.

"Obviously Liverpool are already on the top, but we have still things to reach.

“That’s why we want to be the best and need to improve every season to go and reach the success. It’s going to be a difficult season and a long season, but we have the quality to reach everything I think.

"This summer transfer window was great for the club, they bring so much quality. I

“ think the team will be better, I’m sure about that. That’s why the fans are pretty happy."

Ekitike joined up with his new team-mates in Hong Kong on Thursday and could be given minutes in Saturday's friendly against AC Milan as well as the game against Yokohama F Marinos in Japan next Wednesday.

The Reds conclude their warm-up programme by entertaining Athletic Bilbao in a double-header, and the new arrival is looking forward to a first taste of his new home.

Ekitike

"Yeah, Anfield is mad!" .

"I can’t wait to play there. Obviously I don’t even start to think about what it is to score a goal there. I think I will start to think when we come and we are going to play there, but it’s huge.

"I have seen it on TV and it’s crazy: crazy stadium and crazy fans, so I think it’s going to be amazing."