Newcastle United owner Eddie Howe is ready to face a man he hopes they line up side by side this season with his defender on red alert.
Liverpool will arrive at St James Park on Monday night and still hope to attract star forward Alexander Isak of Pies to leave Tyneside before the summer transfer window is closed, but has already caught Hugo Ekitike and they may replace him.
The 23-year-old Frenchman, who completed a £69 million ($92.8 million) transfer to Anfield from Eintracht Frankfurt last month, is Newcastle's long-term goal, missed his signature and they will have to deal with him as they look for their first win of the new Premier League season.
Howe said: “No doubt I really like Hugo and have been doing it for many years. He has a very good quality and he showed it in his first Premier League game. He has done a great job against Bournemouth.
“He has very good movements, smart, good in the air, scoring goals, scoring two feet. Our job will be to keep quiet. He will be a threat this year.”
Hugo Ekitike made his debut at Liverpool this season. Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Ekitike has shown his ability in British football, scoring in Crystal Palace and last weekend's 4-2 league victory over Bournemouth.
He was one of a series of offensive targets identified by Hippies this summer as they looked for a replacement for Callum Wilson and tried to protect themselves Isak should be sold, and they also missed João Pedro to Chelsea and Benjamin Sesko and Manchester United.
Howe landed in Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale, Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey, currently pursuing Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, and seems to have fewer chances of success, Wolf’s Jorgen Strand Larsen, but admits he’s happy to see the back of the window.
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He said: “When it’s here, I’ll be happy – if we have what we want, I’m happy.
“Every time you walk through the window, there are ups and downs. It feels like there are a lot of falls, but there are a lot of positives.
“The players we signed are really great players and they will add a lot to the team in terms of what I said before, their athleticism and fresh energy.
“For us, there is a lot of motivation. Of course, there is a challenging, bad challenge. From that side, I can't wait for the end of the window because we can refocus on football.”