Newcastle United failed to sign Hugo Ekitike twice in 2022 earlier into the Saudi-backed era.
Newcastle United are reportedly considering a fresh approach for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
If true, Toon chiefs will be hoping for third time lucky having failed to land the Frenchman twice before. Newcastle infamously struggled to sign Ekitike early into the Saudi-backed era in 2022.
With the Magpies in the relegation zone, Ekitike - then just 19 - was enjoying a breakout campaign at Reims. He snubbed a deadline-day move despite Newcastle agreeing a £25million fee.
Newcastle United burned for second time
Newcastle came again in the summer and appeared to have the deal done before a last-minute rejection to join Paris Saint-Germain. Toon fans rightfully felt as though the saga was fuelled by his agent, Karl Mwalako Buchmann, and could be forgiven for feeling doubtful regarding any fresh links.
As it happened, Ekitike predictably flopped at PSG, with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe ahead of him in the pecking order. He has re-established his status as one of Europe’s top prospects at Frankfurt.
Fabrizio Romano on Hugo Ekitike
An impressive 22 goals across all competitions last season has attracted interest from Liverpool. Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano is now reporting Newcastle as a possible destination.
“Hugo Ekitike keeps attracting interest from the Premier League with Newcastle keen on the striker,” he wrote on social media. “More Premier League clubs remain informed on the situation, after Liverpool and Chelsea calls in June. Al-Hilal and Al-Qadsiah called in recent weeks but his priority is Europe.”
Hugo Ekitike regrets PSG move
Ekitike opened up about his failed PSG switch earlier this year. He told L'Equipe: "I was arriving in Messi and Neymar's last year. "Go and get them out? You can't. They have to play, they're the best players in the world.
"You're behind, you're trying to save time. Two minutes, 15 minutes, two matches on the bench then 60 minutes… there's no lying in football. Only continuity makes you a player who can count.
"I'm never going to say that I did everything well. I could have done better - that's the truth - but they (PSG) didn't help me do better. They didn't give me confidence. Even during training, even through discussions, they never really took the time to talk to me to be able to help me. I found myself in a situation where I was forced to get by.
"Even in a match, I had to think about how I moved so as not to hinder any player so that the team could function. All that, mixed with a confidence that wasn't at its maximum, with a different football… That's a lot of information that meant it didn't work, but I learned a lot."
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