Why Liverpool's potential Hugo Ekitike replacements are all a bit of a gamble

[p]Tests would later confirm a ruptured Achilles, which will see the forward miss this summer's World Cup and the early stages of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ekitike-hugo/ltVXPlJU/"]Ekitike[/a] will be a big miss[/h2][p]After a season in which the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Reds[/a] have greatly underperformed, this was another bitter pill for Arne Slot to have to swallow, given just how well Ekitike had played in 2025/26.[/p][p]His 17 goals and six assists in all competitions compare incredibly favourably to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Alexander Isak[/a]'s three goals and one assist, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salah-mohamed/08FBycgB/"]Mo Salah[/a]'s 12 goals and nine assists.[/p][embed guid="9501aa71-8d23-4b66-b0d4-7d2a38661691" url="https://x.com/LFC/status/2044717687616504104" social-type="twitter" /][p]Whilst Isak has had his own injury issues to deal with, when the Swedish international has had the chance to impress, he's failed dismally.[/p][p]For a player who cost a British record £125m, to have only touched the ball five times against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]PSG[/a] is criminal. [/p][h2]Isak needs to up his game[/h2][p]Clearly, however, Isak won't be sold this summer, in the hope that he delivers the goods in the next 12 months, but perhaps a more pressing concern is who the Reds will target in order to replace Ekitike.[/p][p]The player has to be both good enough to hit the ground running, as well as realistic enough to know that he'll probably be rotated heavily once Ekitike is fit again, assuming that Isak, too, has finally found his form.[/p][embed guid="ce371eb5-ef07-4c61-948e-ed0e220f3e68" url="https://x.com/OptaJoe/status/1995153166367883312" social-type="twitter" /][p]Early suggestions that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a] could be on his way to Anfield aren't necessarily without foundation, though he would be more of a like-for-like replacement for Salah rather than Ekitike, given their respective positions on the pitch.[/p][p]Other names in the frame are [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kolo-muani-randal/WKBRZ6Y6/"]Randal Kolo Muani[/a], currently on loan at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a] from PSG, 21-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/midtjylland/8GZDmdbB/"]FC Midtjylland[/a] striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/franculino/KKFRVszn/"]Franculino Dju[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kroupi-eli-junior/fHMXip22/"]Eli Junior Kroupi[/a].[/p][h2]Three names in the frame[/h2][p]All would offer something slightly different and, if cost is an issue, will come in at different price points. So, what would Liverpool be getting if they were to sign any of the trio?[/p][p]From a goals and assists perspective for the current campaign, Kolo Muani has five goals and four assists in all competitions (but just one and one in the Premier League), Franculino's return is 22 goals and four assists in all competitions, whilst Kroupi has 10 goals but no assists.[/p][image alt="Franculino Dju's xG map - Danish Superligaen 2025/26" id="e5965f7b-8308-4bb3-a6a1-cf5a6ba8874e" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="7ee54bf2-5139-48ab-96fb-37ed6c3f4193" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p]Two of the three have Premier League experience, which might well be a factor in determining which avenue Liverpool should go down, though the regularity of Franculino's output certainly puts him in the conversation.[/p][p]In terms of what else each player can bring to the role, Kolo Muani's shot accuracy of 27.3% is embarrassing, and his passing stats are also poor.[/p][p]Just 249 total passes made in the entire season is over 1,000 less than other players in the Spurs squad, and his pass completion of just 69.9% is one of the lowest, too.[/p][h2]Liverpool need a goalscorer[/h2][p]His one-on-one duel success of just 32.6% is the worst of any Lilywhites player, and aerially, where one might expect him to excel, he's lost more duels than everyone bar Richarlison.[/p][p]He has at least won back possession on 54 separate occasions, but Liverpool don't need to sign a ball-winner; rather, an out-and-out goalscorer.[/p][embed guid="2f8bef89-5fcb-405b-91f9-14927d6ba9ec" url="https://x.com/afcbournemouth/status/2007572687556882698" social-type="twitter" /][p]Kroupi has certainly had more than just the Reds sitting up and taking notice of his goalscoring exploits this season, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Manchester United[/a] also rumoured to be taking a keen interest.[/p][p]Not yet 20 years of age, he's scored as many this season as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/semenyo-antoine/r1Gz1yPk/"]Antoine Semenyo[/a] managed for the club before his transfer to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Man City[/a]. [/p][h2]Will age and experience be a factor?[/h2][p]Kroupi's shot accuracy of 70% is best-in-class, whilst a 74.5% pass completion is a clear upgrade on Kolo Muani's output. For a team in Bournemouth that is chasing a finish in the European places, both are a decent return.[/p][p]He, too, has suffered concerning his capacity to win his one-on-ones with a direct opponent, however. Of those Cherries players who have attempted more than 100 in 25/26, he has the lowest win percentage, at just 29.5%.[/p][image alt="Randal Kolo Muani radar graphic - Premier League 2025/26" id="a9025ce8-59e8-44a1-815c-7a3077c5741b" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="18263489-9595-43dc-a7a8-8a57962fbdff" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p]If one does factor in his age, there is plenty of room for growth, and it's entirely possible that this forms part of the decision-making process when Slot and the Liverpool board decide who to target.[/p][p]Franculino is something of an unknown quantity at this point, but Midtjylland are so confident of his quality that if they're forced into selling him, they expect to receive a Danish record €25m fee for his services.[/p][h2]Pluses and minuses[/h2][p]A potential January move earlier this year was scuppered when the player was injured, but he's still posted some super figures this season.[/p][p]His 22 goals scored are at least 10 more than anyone else in the Midtjylland squad, despite having missed 14 games, and a 72.3% shot accuracy is also the best return.[/p][embed guid="6e678bf6-87cf-4d0d-b4a2-75bd24783e37" url="https://x.com/premierleague/status/2016622043144282440" social-type="twitter" /][p]The biggest question mark would be his ability to adapt to a more physically demanding league.[/p][p]Clearly, then, there are pluses and minuses with all three potential signings, though Liverpool aren't in a position where they can really afford to dilly-dally in the summer transfer window.[/p][image alt="Jason Pettigrove" id="5238e58f-2c9c-43c1-a18e-d0c3f593515c" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="0c90645d-a318-4f01-84dc-b312884173d7" original-width="1200" original-height="380" /]