Liverpool’s Search for a No. 9: Šeško, Ekitike or João Pedro? | OneFootball

There’s no breathing room at Liverpool, not even after a title win. Arne Slot has just delivered the club’s 20th league crown in his first season, a remarkable start by any measure. But triumph breeds expectation, not comfort. And as pre-season looms, one thing is already dominating the internal conversations at Kirkby: a No. 9. A real one.

Slot’s blueprint is clear by now. High tempo, vertical attacks, constant movement, and a relentless press. It’s worked; just ask Pep Guardiola, but there’s a sense the system is crying out for a striker who can do it all. Someone to press and pivot, create and kill. Someone who can turn 1-0s into 3-0s. That player isn’t in the current squad, and the recruitment team knows it. While Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez have all had varying degrees of success in the position, it wouldn’t be fair to say any of them are an elite striker.

Based on solid reporting from trusted Merseyside sources, three names are under serious consideration: Benjamin Šeško, Hugo Ekitike, and João Pedro. Each offers something unique, but only one can become the tip of Slot’s spear next season.

Benjamin Šeško – The Vertical Threat

Club: RB Leipzig Age: 21 Release Clause: €70–80M

Statistical Information

Benjamin Sesko has scored 21 goals from an xG (expected goals) of 13.46 while providing six assists from an xA (expected assists) of 1.80, thus overperforming in both areas. With 47 shots on target from 104 attempted shots, he shows that he can hit the target when necessary, something Liverpool would greatly appreciate. However, he falls in the 45th percentile among strikers in xA, which highlights that he perhaps lags in terms of creative involvement.

He belongs in the 68th percentile in overall attacking actions, which is far behind compared to the other two. He is a versatile finisher, able to finish chances with both feet, be they long-range efforts or tap-ins, as exemplified by him belonging in the 72nd percentile for Non-Penalty Goals (NPGs).

Tactical Profile and Fit

Šeško offers one critical element: verticality. Standing at 6’5″ with elite aerial metrics (91st percentile rank in winning aerial duels), he profiles as a devastating transitional forward. His movement stretches defensive lines, creating space between centre-backs and full-backs, exactly where Slot likes to direct his wide forwards.

Despite Leipzig’s rotational attack, Šeško outperformed his xG by 7.54, highlighting ruthless efficiency in front of goal. However, his xA and creative output remain limited, which could marginalise him in deep-possession scenarios that Slot often encounters against low blocks.

Value to Liverpool

Šeško’s ceiling is sky-high. At just 21, he has shown the ability to press, link play sporadically, and offer a consistent scoring threat. With Liverpool’s creative midfielders and wingers, his low xA can be mitigated.

He isn’t a final-third orchestrator but rather the hammer to break games open.

Hugo Ekitike – The Hybrid Creator-Scorer

Club: Eintracht Frankfurt Age: 22 Expected Fee: ~€100M

Ekitike has dazzled with 22 goals in 48 matches (96th percentile, i.e., top 4% in Europe). His non-penalty goal (NPG) rate is commendable (84th percentile, i.e., top 16% amongst strikers in Europe), making him the most clinical finisher out of the three.

Ekitike (92nd percentile in xA, top 8%) is an energetic carrier and offers diligently and productively to the build-up phase. He can drop deep to interlink with his teammates and is also a creative threat himself, providing 12 assists and 64 key passes this season. His overall attacking actions see him in the 94th percentile (top 6% in Europe), highlighting he is excellent at what he does.

Tactical Profile and Fit

Ekitike offers a rare duality; he scores and creates. His 12 assists and 64 key passes demonstrate a centre-forward who thrives in tight spaces, operating as a facilitator rather than just a pure finisher. Slot demands forwards who can drag defenders, link play, and overload wide areas. Ekitike’s profile fits.

While he has underperformed his xG marginally this season (-2.61), that’s partly down to poor shot selection, not a lack of ability. His 94th percentile rank in attacking actions shows high final-third involvement, while his xA (92nd percentile) reveals a playmaker’s eye.

Value to Liverpool

Ekitike would inject versatility into the forward line. He can drop into midfield lines to combine, draw defenders, and unlock space. His ability to press and link makes him ideal in Slot’s fluid system. At €100M, he’s expensive, but his metrics back up the investment.

He brings Firmino-like intelligence but perhaps adds more verticality and raw output.

João Pedro – The Intelligent Connector

Club: Brighton Age: 23 Expected Fee: ~£60M

Pedro follows with 10 goals (from an xG of 8.90), the 74th percentile for xA, and seven assists (from an xA of 3.09), the 82nd percentile for xA in 30 matches, proving reliable. Like Šeško, he is a versatile finisher as well, able to finish chances with both feet, be they long-range efforts or tap-ins.

Tactical Profile and Fit

João Pedro is the most technical of the three. He excels in progressive buildup and has an exceptional understanding of space. His percentile in passes to the box (91st percentile), with 33 key passes and passes received (92nd percentile), speaks to his movement and connection play. His 84th percentile rank in attacking actions shows decent final-third involvement. The main issue for Pedro is that he relies heavily on penalties to be involved in goalscoring, being only in the 33rd percentile for non penalty goals.

Pedro thrives in positional systems like Brighton’s, similar to Slot’s structured positional play. He doesn’t score heavily, but his link-up quality, pressing intelligence, and timing are elite.

Value to Liverpool

Pedro offers clarity and control. He won’t dominate the goalscoring charts, but he’ll knit attacks together. In games where Liverpool control possession, Pedro can act as a fulcrum, dropping deep, dragging markers, and triggering overloads.

His ceiling isn’t as high as Ekitike’s or Šeško’s, but his tactical IQ fits Slot’s methodology with minimal adaptation.

Comparative Analysis: Šeško vs Ekitike vs Pedro

Suitability & Cost Considerations

Šeško, at 21 years, has a release clause of £70 million, which could rise to £80 million in summer, according to reports. RB Leipzig were hesitant to sell him in January, despite being out of the UCL. His agent had denied any potential negotiations which saw Sesko headed to North London via a loan move in January. His contract expires on June 30, 2029. According to DaveOCKOP, Liverpool are still in contact and it’s believed that the €100M fee can be reduced. Both Liverpool and Arsenal, however, continue to be strongly linked to Sesko, who, nevertheless, is a long-term investment with better aerial prowess but lower overall output.

Liverpool also have set their sights on João Pedro as a prime striker target ahead of the summer window. As per Fabrizio Romano, the Brighton forward is open to a new chapter, with a potential fee around £60m attracting top Premier League suitors. Brighton will ultimately decide, but with Pedro’s talent and versatility, this is one to monitor closely. A dynamic, press-resistant forward, Pedro could be a shrewd fit in Liverpool’s evolving attack.

Liverpool are intensifying their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike, with the Eintracht Frankfurt striker emerging as a key name in their summer plans. According to Ben Jacobs and Lewis Steele, Ekitike scores highly in the Reds’ data-led scouting metrics alongside João Pedro. As reported by Florian Plettenberg, the Frenchman is pushing for a move, with Frankfurt valuing him at €100m. Ekitike’s stats standout. He has scored 15 goals and provided 8 assists in the Bundesliga this season, which has powered Frankfurt to Champions League qualification, making him one of Europe’s most coveted young forwards.

Final Verdict: Best Fit for Arne Slot in the No. 9 Position

While all three bring something to the table, Hugo Ekitike feels like the missing piece for Arne Slot and Liverpool. Not just a goalscorer, not just a technician, but the type of forward who elevates everyone around him. He is the orchestrator.

In Slot’s high-octane, vertically obsessed system, you need more than just someone to finish off moves. You need a forward who can live in the chaos, stitch together transitions, press like a midfielder, and still carry the threat of a 20-goal striker. Ekitike ticks those boxes with something approaching ease. His xG and xA metrics suggest he may need to improve his end product, but his movement, awareness, and touch tell the fuller story. This is a striker who understands the rhythm of a team.

Put him at the tip of this Liverpool attack and things start to make sense. Darwin can rotate or be sold, and Gakpo and Jota can become impact options, and the midfield’s aggressive positioning suddenly has a reference point. Ekitike isn’t just a good fit; he’s the kind of striker who makes everyone else better. A real floor raiser.

If Liverpool want to build on Slot’s electric first season and turn one title into many, they’ll need a forward who fits the system like a glove and still has levels to grow. Ekitike might not be the obvious superstar, but he might just be the smartest choice.

He doesn’t just lead the line; Hugo Ekitike has the potential to define it.