One Word Says It All! Hugo Ekitike admits he nearly transferred to Newcastle and reveals how he'd handle being booed.
On 30 Jan 2026, amid Liverpool's ups and downs in the 2025-26 season, one thing remained consistent: the form of Hugo Ekitike.
This forward has become an astonishing discovery for the Reds since moving from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, recently scoring his 12th goal of the season in a 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag.
However, his career path might have been different, as before joining Liverpool, the French striker nearly signed with Newcastle, the opponent in Saturday's game.
"You're asking a tough question," Ekitike told BBC Radio Merseyside when asked how close he was to joining the Magpies.
"We were close to a transfer, but I made my decision. I knew where I wanted to go, and now I'm where I wanted to be. That's all I can say."
When asked if Newcastle fans might boo him at Saturday's game at Anfield, Ekitike replied, "I don't care. I play for Liverpool, and I have my fans here."
"We've played there before (at St James' Park) and won, so hopefully we'll have a good training week. I don't care about that at all. I just want to play, and that's what matters most."
English Premier League 2025-26, Matchday 24: Liverpool hosts Newcastle United on 31 Jan 2026 at 03:00 GMT+7.