Liverpool transfer challenge deepens as Ekitike’s suspected Achilles injury may reshape summer plans
Liverpool’s season took another turn for the worse on Tuesday night as a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain ended their Champions League run and Hugo Ekitike was carried off with a suspected Achilles injury that could end his debut campaign and derail his World Cup hopes.
According to The Athletic, the France international is expected to be sidelined for several months with a suspected Achilles rupture sustained against the French champions, a lay-off that sources said is likely to rule him out of the World Cup in June. Liverpool have not yet confirmed the diagnosis.
The club’s focus on Wednesday was on commemorating the 37th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. The outlet added that Ekitike’s absence may influence Liverpool’s summer transfer strategy.
With Mohamed Salah poised to exit and Federico Chiesa also likely to move on, the report suggested the Reds could begin the 2026/27 campaign with an attacking group comprising Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha — a scenario it described as “bound to have an impact” on the club’s summer plans.
Manager Arne Slot characterised the club as being in “transition” and acknowledged the scale of the task ahead. “Now we are losing Mo and Andy Robertson on a free transfer as we lost Trent [Alexander‑Arnold] and this model of the club means we need to sell, usually, to buy,” he told Prime Video.
“So it’s a big challenge. It was already last season.
It’s going to be a challenge in the summer again.” He added that the club’s approach has worked before and expressed optimism: many of the players will be entering their second Premier League season, and “the future looks really good, especially if we can add a few good signings after the players leaving this summer.” Tuesday’s defeat confirmed Slot’s second campaign will end without silverware.
How Liverpool navigate Ekitike’s recovery and the anticipated departures will now shape a pivotal close season at Anfield.