As Liverpool splashes $106m on Hugo Ekitike following the sudden death of Diogo Jota, Manchester United’s striker hunt spirals into chaos

Liverpool are set to unleash a new era of firepower with the imminent $106 million capture of French phenom Hugo Ekitike, a move that comes just days after the tragic death of Diogo Jota and could derail Manchester United’s entire transfer strategy.

The Anfield club has agreed to pay $93 million upfront with an additional $13 million in bonuses to secure the signature of 22-year-old Ekitike. The deal, seen as a brutal power play, sends shockwaves across the Premier League — especially to bitter rivals Manchester United, whose already fragile striker plans may now be in shambles.

Jota’s untimely passing earlier this month cast a dark shadow over Liverpool’s preseason. Fans flooded Anfield with tributes, and the club mourned the loss of a beloved figure. But behind the grief, Liverpool’s board moved swiftly. With Darwin Nunez likely headed for the exit and a gaping hole in the front line, Arne Slot had no time to waste.

Enter Hugo Ekitike: pace, flair, and a ruthless instinct in front of goal. Liverpool.com reports that he’ll join forces with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Florian Wirtz in what now looks like one of Europe’s most terrifying attacking lineups.

But while Liverpool strengthens, United stumbles. The Red Devils managed just 44 goals in the Premier League last season — fewer than Fulham — and their main strikers, Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee, found the net only seven times between them.

United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, is desperate for firepower. But Ekitike’s sky-high price tag has triggered a ripple effect: selling clubs are now inflating prices for their own strikers. Case in point — Chelsea. The Blues are reportedly asking $108–$135 million for Nicolas Jackson, citing Ekitike’s deal as justification. That’s for a player who started once during the Club World Cup.

United have shown interest in Jackson, but balked at the bloated valuation. Meanwhile, Bryan Mbeumo — another target — is now said to be slipping away due to rising interest from other clubs spooked by Liverpool’s aggressive move.

It’s a familiar story: United chase, others swoop. The delay is costing them — and with each passing day, the striker market becomes more ruthless, more chaotic, and more expensive.

Even Ekitike’s move wasn’t without its drama. Sources say a video call from new boss Arne Slot was the clincher, with the Dutchman reportedly “seducing” the Frenchman into choosing Liverpool over Newcastle and PSG. The fact that Ekitike forced through the transfer himself — even halting talks with Frankfurt — only adds to the ruthlessness of this saga.

The timing is chilling. Just days after Jota’s funeral, Liverpool moves forward — and moves big. There’s no sentimentality here. Only steel, ambition, and a cold calculation that has left United scrambling.

As Amorim’s plans collapse and the striker market mutates into a warzone, Liverpool fans are already dreaming of a reborn front line. And United? They’re left to watch from the wreckage — again.