Liverpool closing in on Ekitike

LIVERPOOL are ready to bid more than £70 million for Hugo Ekitike and push their summer spending close to £300m.

- By Chris McKenna

Eintracht Frankfurt have already rejected a £70m offer from Newcastle for Ekitike, 23, who has a release clause of £86m in his contract.

But Liverpool will hope to land him for a lower fee.

The France Under-21 striker is understood to favour a move to Anfield over Newcastle, who have ended their interest in the player.