Newcastle have been linked with Hugo Ekitike(Image: Getty Images)
Newcastle United should rekindle their interest in Hugo Ekitike - and form a lethal £200m attacking partnership with Alexander Isak.
Former Liverpool star Don Hutchison is a big fan of the French striker who is reportedly back on United's radar.
Eintract Frankfurt are demanding around £85m for the frontman, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United among the clubs linked with a move for the 23-year-old.
Newcastle had been keen on a deal back in 2023 before he left Reims, but Ekitike opted to move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
However, that deal backfired with the striker struggling in Parlis before finding his form on loan with Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. After a permanent move, he has established himself as one of the hottest properties in Germany football, with talk of a big summer move.
He would fit the bill for Newcastle, says ex-Scotland international Hutchison, and says he can play ALONGSIDE Isak and not just as an alternative option.
"For me, I want Newcastle to sign Hugo Ekitike. I know people will say that Newcastle have got Alexander Isak already, and they don’t need two No. 9s," he told [BestBettingSites.](https://www.bestbettingsites.com/uk/blog/don-hutchison-interview.html)
"But you need a deep squad, and Inter Milan can set up with two strikers and make it work. I think Newcastle have got the players to work with two up top.
"They’ve got Schar, Burn and Botrman, that’s a natural back three. Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento can play wing-backs either side, and they have that brilliant three in midfield. Put Isak alongside Ekitike up front, and that’s quite some partnership.
"You can have Anthony Gordon, Antony Elanga and Jacob Murphy battling for spots, and Gordon can play through the middle. But I really don’t understand why Ekitike isn’t getting talked about more, because he is a super centre-forward."
Newcastle have already spent £55m bringing Anthony Elanga to St James' Park, another deal Hutchison feels will be a good one for the Magpies.
"Bringing Anthony Elanga in will add extra quality, and Newcastle need that with the season coming up," he added. "It’s tough, because Jacob Murphy is coming off the back of a brilliant season. But Elanga provides a brilliant option if he’s in Eddie Howe’s squad.
"That’s two players who can fight it out for one spot and the competition can spur them on. With the number of games, Elanga could also play one match and Murphy could come in for the next.
"There are so many competitions and games to play in with the Champions League. Whoever is in form gets the nod for the biggest matches.
"If only one is match fit, it makes the decision easy, but if they’re both on fire you can rotate. Signing Elanga also addresses the gap in the squad since Yakuba Minteh went to Brighton because of PSR rules. Newcastle are a bit light in that position, but Elanga and Murphy would provide massive quality."