Liverpool manager Arn Slott watches the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park on September 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Duratt/Getty Images)
Midtjylland defender Ousmane Diao has revealed his admiration for Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike, insisting he would love to play alongside the France international.
Diao played against the 23-year-old last season and found the striker difficult to deal with. He revealed that he would like to play alongside Liverpool players one day. He also added that he dreams of moving to the Premier League.
Diao was linked with Crystal Palace a few months ago.
Ousmane Diao praises Hugo Ekitike
“Last year against Frankfurt, we had a lot of good players like Ekitike and Marmouche. But Hugo Ekitike was especially difficult. To be honest, I’d like to play with him in the future (lol). His movement is incredible. He’s fast, he’s technical… he’s very strong. He’s a great player.”
“My next dream, God willing, is to go to England and go to a big club. To go and play in the Champions League, that’s what it’s all about,” he told Futmercato.
Diao could be a useful option for the Reds
The 21-year-old African defender is highly sought after across Europe and could be an interesting option if Liverpool decide to make a move. His comments will no doubt be encouraging for Premier League clubs.
It’s no secret that they need more quality and depth in their defensive unit. Ibrahima Konate will be a free agent at the end of the season, while Joe Gomez is extremely injury-prone. They need multiple central defenders in the coming months. They were close to signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace during the summer transfer window.
It will be interesting to see if the 21-year-old defender can continue to impress at Midtjylland and attract the attention of top teams like Liverpool. He is a young player with a lot of potential and could be a useful acquisition.