FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 31: Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates scoring his ... More team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Deutsche Bank Park on August 31, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Helge Prang/Getty Images)
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Throughout the summer, Newcastle United has faced speculation over its star striker Alexander Isak. But ahead of its return to the Champions League, the club is targeting an ambitious move to sign another exciting forward to partner the Swede up front in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
The 23-year-old is widely expected to leave the Bundesliga club this summer and a move to the Premier League is said to be a high priority, though Frankfurt is currently demanding any suitor pay his £85m ($115m) release clause.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all interested, with the Reds reportedly looking at Ekitike as a first alternative to Isak if, as expected, [Newcastle stands firm on his future](https://www.forbes.com/sites/harrydecosemo/2025/06/20/what-is-the-situation-with-liverpool-newcastle-united-and-alex-isak/). But Newcastle is in need of an attacker after the departure of Callum Wilson, and like the idea of Isak and Ekitike combining, or at least providing strong competition for one another.
Ekitike’s name will be known to Newcastle fans. The club has attempted to sign him twice in the last four years, initially coming close in January 2022. It was Newcastle’s first window after the takeover, and Ekitike, a teenager at the time, was at Reims.
The interest was an early indication of Newcastle’s recruitment blueprint, signing young, exciting talent at a fraction of its potential value. Ekitike opted to join Paris Saint-Germain, initially on loan, but played a handful of games and struggled with competition from the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at Parc des Princes. He moved to Germany for the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan, going permanently the following summer having lost valuable development time.
His 18 month stint at Frankfurt has worked wonders. Last season, Ekitike scored 22 goals in all competitions with 11 assists, re-establishing him as one of the most exciting forwards around.
Newcastle signed Isak and he has thrived at St James’ Park. But contact with and interest in Ekitike has never ceased; such is the depth of detail in its scouting, rarely does the club fully move on from a target. Earlier this summer, Newcastle offered more than £50m ($67m) for Joao Pedro, the other striker it wanted to sign before Isak signed, only for him to join Brighton from Watford after the club changed focus in August 2022. The Brazilian opted to move to Chelsea instead.
Given Newcastle needs a striker again and has already returned to its old list once, it makes sense for it to do it again with Ekitike. The Frenchman is the ideal profile wanted by Eddie Howe to both compliment and compete with Isak, particularly in terms of versatile, able to play off the left or drop deep and combine with midfielders or run in behind and score. He is good at both creating chances for himself (in the 96th percentile of Bundesliga strikers for progressive carries) and others (94th percentile for shot creating actions, according to fbref.com), and a lethal finisher.
Others, including Brentford’s 28-year-old Yoan Wissa, are possibilities, but Newcastle’s options cover a wide range of scenarios.
It would be an ambitious move for Newcastle to make a third attempt to sign Ekitike, and that is genuinely being considered. But there are serious hurdles to surpass.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - APRIL 26: Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates scoring his ... More team's third goal during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig at Deutsche Bank Park on April 26, 2025 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
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### What could stop Newcastle United signing Hugo Ekitike?
Newcastle is considered an outsider in the race for Ekitike for a number of reasons. Firstly, Isak’s presence is a complication. Although Howe needs a Champions League-quality addition up front, any potential option will arrive at St James’ Park knowing he will be behind Newcastle’s top scorer in the pecking order.
Yes, it is possible for two strikers to pair up; Ekitike did so with Omar Marmoush at Frankfurt last season before he joined Manchester City and Isak regularly combines with Viktor Gyokeres and new club mate Anthony Elanga for Sweden. But Howe prefers a 4-3-3 system and upsetting the midfield balance in particular would be a risky strategy. Ekitike could play wide on the left, but Newcastle already has Anthony Gordon and and Harvey Barnes there. The reality is Ekitike could get more game time in a position he’d like, as well as better wages, at other clubs who want to sign him.
Cost will also be something to consider. Newcastle has a sizeable budget to spend this summer, with £55m ($74m) already spent on Elanga, and a centre back and goalkeeper also required. Although Newcastle reacts to sign priority targets, it would be a push to match Frankfurt’s valuation and still cover all bases. Crucially, though, not impossible.
Ekitike remains an ideal option up front for Newcastle, and the club is aware of the challenges of getting a deal done. Yet all the reasons to discredit the possibility are speculative; it will undoubtedly be tough, but if the club is to progress, signings like this must become a more regular occurrence.