The agents of Hugo Ekitike are in Newcastle to seal a transfer move from Eintracht Frankfurt to the North East, according to reports. Liverpool, of course, has been credited with holding an interest in the Frenchman.
According to ESPN, Newcastle United is looking to seal a transfer deal worth around $93 million (£69 million) for Ekitike, who scored 22 times in all competitions last season. Formerly at PSG, he is a big talent, but it would be a steep fee to pay.
Earlier in the summer, it was thought that Frankfurt was set to demand $117 million (£87 million) for Ekitike. At that stage, Chelsea was taking a look, but it has since moved for Joao Pedro instead, and has already brought in Liam Delap.
Newcastle has a long-term interest in Ekitike having tried to sign him from Reims in 2022. At the time, he moved to PSG instead but failed to make himself a regular in the starting XI.
He then ignited in Germany, making himself a mainstay and playing alongside Omar Marmoush, who moved to Manchester City in January.
According to Sky Sports News, Ekitike would be bought by Newcastle to play alongside Alexander Isak. It has added that meetings have taken place with Ekitike's camp in both Germany and Austria with a view to getting the deal done.
Hugo Ekitike.
Hugo Ekitike. (Image: Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Earlier this week, Newcastle confirmed the signing of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest. That transfer move went through at a fee that could reach as much as $74 million (£55 million).
Unlike last summer, when Liverpool saw a chance to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, the Magpies no longer have PSR issues. Those were solved last summer with the sales of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson.
A year on, Liverpool links with Gordon have resurfaced in some quarters. The Newcastle winger signed a new contract at the start of last season, however, and didn't go on to have that good a campaign in terms of consistent performances and goalscoring.
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If Luis Diaz stays and with Cody Gakpo a strong performer in recent months on the left wing, signing someone in that position is not a priority. Getting a number nine in to upgrade on Darwin Nunez, though, still might be.
Liverpool.com says: The obvious question for Reds fans will be about Isak. If Ekitike goes to Newcastle, does that mean that the Swede might be more likely to leave?
It is theoretically possible that Isak moves on, of course, but Ekitike going to St James' Park is hardly the end of his usefulness in the North East. Eddie Howe has secured Champions League soccer, and he will need more options and depth as a result.
Playing Ekitike and Isak together is not something that should be ruled out. There will be more than enough games for the pair to both be in the same roster without getting on each other's toes.