Jeremie Aliadiere has urged his former club Arsenal to avoid a potential move for Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike in the January transfer window.

Ekitike only joined Liverpool in July, with the Premier League champions signing the France international in a £79m deal from Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a fine start at Liverpool, registering three goals and an assist across his opening five top-flight games for the Reds.

But a red card in the Carabao Cup – which left Arne Slot fuming – saw Ekitike suspended for the loss to Crystal Palace in September, with the forward then benched for Liverpool’s last two Premier League games, having picked up an injury against Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Ekitike has been replaced in the Liverpool XI by fellow summer signing Alexander Isak, who arrived at Liverpool in a £125m deal from Newcastle.

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