Richard Hughes to repeat Hugo Ekitike trick with deal for £64m forward

Richard Hughes to repeat Hugo Ekitike trick with deal for £64m forward Liverpool have made a habit out of thwarting Newcastle’s business in the transfer market. Last summer Hugo Ekitike was apparently close to a move to the Toon before Richard Hughes swooped in for a deal worth around an initial £69m. And during the FIFA World Cup it emerged that the Geordies were wrapping up a deal for Spanish dynamo Victor Munoz. It did not take long for the Reds’ sporting director to strike again though - stealing in at the last minute and triggering his £34m Osasuna release clause. Liverpool looking to beat Newcastle to Matias Fernandez-Pardo And now according to transfer reporter Nicolo Schira Andoni Iraola’s side are determined to do it all over again . Because Liverpool are in the race with the North East outfit to sign Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo. The Belgian, 21, looks set to move on from Lille this summer - the club he joined from Gent in 2024. He would provide a high-quality, versatile option for Iraola should he go on to lose Cody Gakpo to Manchester City. Lille want €75m for Fernandez-Pardo However a deal would not come cheap for the forward with Lille standing firm on a €75m (£65m) valuation. “Newcastle and Liverpool are in the race to sign Matias Fernandez Pardo (born in 2005),” he writes on X . “Lille ask €75M to sell him.” Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets Open an account and place a qualifying bet of £10 at min odds of 1/5 (1.2) or greater. 18+New UK/ROI customers. Min £5 deposit. Bet Credits available on settlement of qualifying bets, capped at £10 stake. Min odds 1/5 (1.20). Bet Credits expire in 7 days. Excl. Cashed Out/Free Bets/Boosted odds. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org £30 FREE CLAIM NOW Matias Fernández-Pardo: Situation summary Matias Fernández-Pardo’s situation at Lille has developed into a clear end-of-window stand-off, with the 21-year-old forward seeking a move while the club, who previously maintained he was not for sale, have excluded him from first-team training and selection until the market closes. Davide Ancelotti’s decision is understood to have been taken with the club’s backing, and it reflects a transfer dispute rather than a fitness issue. Newcastle United have been the most persistent reported suitors, with bids and a potential final offer discussed in the region of €60m (£51m), though Lille are believed to value Fernández-Pardo closer to €70m (£60m); Atlético Madrid and RB Leipzig have also been linked, while Liverpool’s reported contact currently appears exploratory rather than a formal approach. Lille retain strong leverage because Fernández-Pardo is under contract until 2029, but his exclusion signals that relations have worsened and leaves a late agreement increasingly plausible if a buying club gets close enough to the club’s valuation.