Things are finally starting to heat up for Newcastle United in the summer transfer window
The new football financial year looks to have inspired us to start flexing our muscles in the market, with Anthony Elanga set to be announced imminently after passing his medical on Tyneside over the past 24 hours.
And the activity doesn’t look to be finished there, as a familiar name has now been linked with a move to St James’ Park three years after he almost arrived from France.
According to [Fabrizio Romano](https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1942986564990063032), Newcastle United are showing interest in a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt attacker and former PSG talent Hugo Ekitike.
It seems we aren’t the only club keen, however, as Romano mentions previous contact from Liverpool and Chelsea, while two clubs in the Middle East have shown interest, despite his priority being to remain in Europe.
Writing on X, Romano said: _‘Hugo Ekitike keeps attracting interest from Premier League with Newcastle keen on the striker._
_‘More Premier League clubs remain also informed on situation, after Liverpool and Chelsea calls in June. Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah called in recent weeks but his priority is Europe.’_
It’s not the first time we’ve been linked with Ekitike. Newcastle almost signed the then 19-year-old back in January 2022 when he was at Reims, only for him to reject us in favour of a move to PSG six months later.
But he struggled to find form in the French capital, whilst a stint in Frankfurt looks to have revitalised his career, with 22 goals in 48 appearances last season.
Newcastle may be interested – we have a thing for long-term targets – but, if we’re being honest, this doesn’t feel particularly likely while Alexander Isak is still here. Others have also questioned if this is our name being attached (not for the first time this summer) in an agent-led push to garner more interest.
In many ways, Ekitike would make a lot of sense: being a prolific young attacker who we can help build the future of the club around, he should only get better from here.
And tactically, it would crucially deny both Chelsea and Liverpool a reported target, though the Blues aren’t exactly devoid of current options in attack after beating us to deals for Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.
Although, the same question must be asked: Will Ekitike be willing to join us in with Alexander Isak still set to be the primary goalscorer and focal point of the team?
He has no shortage of suitors, each of whom would be willing to make him their primary centre forward, you would imagine.
And would the huge fee – approximately £70m – that Frankfurt are asking for the Frenchman, instead be better spent elsewhere in the squad, such as on a new right-sided centre back?