EK OF AN OFFER

Big-spending Reds to pass €80m for French ace Hugo

- BY CHRIS MCKENNA X@cmckennasport

LIVERPOOL are ready to bid more than €80millon for Hugo Ekitike - sending their summer spending soaring close to €350m.

The Reds will have to submit an offer of more than €80m as Eintracht Frankfurt rejected an offer from Newcastle for that sum earlier this week.

Ekitike, 23, has a release clause of €100m but Liverpool will hope to land him for a lower fee with a bid coming after initial talks.

The France Under-21 international is now understood to be favouring a move to Anfield over Newcastle, who have pulled out of the race.