Newcastle United are hoping to agree a big-money deal for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, according to reports. The Frenchman has been admired by senior figures at St James' Park for years, but he snubbed their advances to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in January 2022.
The Magpies may also face high-profile competition to lure him to the north-east this summer. Manchester United and Liverpool are just two of the big clubs following Ekitike, who was also linked with Chelsea before Enzo Maresca bolstered his attacking ranks by beating Newcastle to the signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton earlier this month.
Ekitike's Frankfurt contract includes an £86million release clause, and The Telegraph claim that Newcastle would 'almost certainly' have to fork out the full amount in order to complete the deal.
That sum would make him the Toon's all-time record signing. And it would be an eyebrow-raising splurge given that Ekitike would most likely play understudy to Alexander Isak, unless manager Eddie Howe can find a way to play them as a partnership.
There is also the possibility that Newcastle are looking to bring Ekitike on board in anticipation of Isak's eventual departure. Practically every top side in the Premier League is keen on Isak, but Newcastle have so far successfully fended off interest by pinning him with a massive price tag, believed to be at least £150m.
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