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World Cup winner Frank Lebouef believes Liverpool must chart a fresh course next season if they want to return to the top of English football.

It’s fair to say that Liverpool’s current campaign has fallen short of expectations. At the start of the season, many fans and pundits predicted another title challenge from the Reds.

After spending over £440 million – a record outlay for an English club – during the summer transfer window, Liverpool were widely expected to secure back-to-back Premier League titles.

However, the reality has been quite different. Instead of dominating the league, the Merseyside giants have been battling hard just to secure a Champions League spot, following a mixed spell of performances, particularly during the autumn months.

With several senior players beginning to show signs of ageing – including last season’s talisman Mohamed Salah, now 33 – many supporters are calling for a rebuild ahead of the next campaign. For former Premier League and France defender Frank Lebouef, the man to front that new project is fellow Frenchman Hugo Ekitike.

“It’s not only about Hugo, but he will definitely be part of Liverpool’s next big step,” said Lebouef, who lifted the World Cup with France in 1998, while speaking to FourFourTwo on behalf of BetVictor Online Casino.

Lebouef recalled attending Ekitike’s first game of the season, saying, “I was there for his debut when he scored, and I even managed to get his shirt afterwards.”

The £69 million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt made an instant impact by scoring on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth. Since then, he has already reached double figures in goals in England’s top division this season.

“He proved from day one that you don’t always need time to adapt,” Lebouef continued. “Despite never playing in England before, he showed confidence and skill right away. He’s tall, fast, and technically gifted.”

Those qualities, according to Lebouef – who spent the final years of his playing career at Chelsea – make Ekitike the ideal player to lead Liverpool into a new era under Arne Slot.

“Yes, I think Liverpool should focus their future plans around Hugo,” said Lebouef. “The club invested heavily last summer and is still in transition.”

He added that the Reds could face some selection challenges when Swedish forward Alexander Isak returns from injury, as he prefers to play through the middle, while Cody Gakpo has cemented his place on the left flank.

“If Arne Slot remains in charge next season, he will have to make some tough decisions,” Lebouef explained. “Some of the biggest names in the squad might have to accept more time on the bench as part of the rotation system. But Hugo is definitely one of the key players for Liverpool’s future.”

Liverpool will resume their Premier League campaign on Saturday when they welcome West Ham United to Anfield.