· 15 July 2025, 11:30
**It looks as though Newcastle United are ready to splash the cash in order to bring in another forward to support Alexander Isak this summer.**
With just Will Osula for backup now that Callum Wilson has left the club, Eddie Howe must find another player who is capable of providing competition for places with Alexander Isak.
To do that, though, Howe must be ready to offer a potential new signing plenty of minutes to convince them to come and play second fiddle to Isak, and the best way to do that would be to propose a new formation with two up top.
That seems to be the plan as Newcastle chase an £86 million deal for France striker Hugo Ekitike.
Newcastle reportedly eyeing Endrick from Real Madrid
Newcastle have a very impressive backup plan if Hugo Ekitike bid fails
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Should Newcastle not manage to land their preferred target, they do have other options in mind, according to reports from Spain (via TeamTALK).
Newcastle could look to Real Madrid striker Endrick if the Ekitike deal falls through.
The young Brazilian showed English fans what he could do back in March 2024 when he scored his first senior international goal for Brazil against the Three Lions.
Endrick made 37 appearances for Real Madrid last season
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Still just 18 years old, Endrick made 37 appearances for Real Madrid last season, chipping in with seven goals and an assist, which sounds like a low strike rate, but only four of those appearances are starts.
Real Madrid paid £61 million for Endrick when he was just 16 which shows the kind of potential he has, and if Newcastle fail to land Ekitike, then Endrick would be an amazing backup plan with Real Madrid apparently open to letting him leave.
We would have just brushed this rumour aside as pure fantasy were it not for the strength of the rumours around Hugo Ekitike and the fact that several outlets are confident that the club is ready to spend £86 million on him.
The fact that the report originated in Spain and TeamTALK haven't named their source is a red flag, especially if that source turns out to be Fichajes who are about as reliable as my knees. Still, it's an exciting rumour and one we felt worthy of passing on.