Newcastle are in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over what would be a club record bid for Hugo Ekitike
Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak prepares to train in Austria
(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Newcastle United could offer Hugo Ekitike a huge incentive to move to Tyneside, with one of football's most iconic shirts up for grabs. Callum Wilson's departure last month has meant the legendary No 9 shirt is now available for next season.
There had been some talk that Alexander Isak would inherit the shirt once worn by the likes of Alan Shearer, Jackie Milburn and Malcolm Macdonald to name but a few of the big-name strikers in the club's history.
The Swedish international is, after all, United's first choice striker and has the temperament to handle the responsbility of wearing the No 9 jersey - not to mention the ability and goals to back it up.
However, pictures from United's training camp at FC Seefelder Plateau near Innsbruck, in Austria, show Isak still wearing the No 14 on his training gear.
That would suggest the No 9 is still very much available, and would surely be the icing on the cake when it comes to negotiations with Ekitike.
Newcastle are locked in talks for Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal that could set a new transfer record for the club. The Bundesliga outfit are holding out for the €100m valuation, but there are hopes a deal could be struck at a lower price.
United summer recruit Anthony Elanga is in Austria with his new team-mates after completing his £55m move from Nottingham Forest last weekend, and has No 25 on his training gear.
He wore No 21 at Forest, with the 25 shirt now free following Lloyd Kelly's £20m move to Juventus.
The No 3 shirt remains vacant, with Newcastle in the market for a new defender, although Lewis Hall was pictured on a cycle ride wearing his usual No 20 top.
Anthony Elanga
Newcastle United new signing Anthony Elanga
Lewis Hall of Newcastle United
Lewis Hall at Newcastle's Austria training camp(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Of course there is plenty time for the squad numbers to change. United did not confirm their numbers until August 16 last term, and will likely wait until just before the Premier League season before issuing this term's definitive list.
Newcastle will spend the week in Austria before returning to the UK ahead of Saturday's pre-season game against Celtic in Glasgow.
They will then head off to Singapore to face Arsenal before two games in South Korea against a K-League XI and Tottenham Hotspur.
United then end their pre-season schedule with two matches at St James' Park against Espanyol and Athletico Madrid, with the Premier League season getting under way on Saturday, August 16 at Aston Villa.