It is clear what Newcastle United must do to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, amid fresh interest from Liverpool.
It has been a wild 24 hours on Tyneside, as Newcastle United attempt to sign Hugo Ekitike and play him alongside Alexander Isak.
That deal would be a huge statement of intent, but it remains to be seen if Newcastle United really will be able to strike what would be a stunning deal.
The Magpies are prepared to break their transfer record for the 23-year-old, and have already tried to do so. However, Frankfurt rejected Newcastle’s £70million bid for Ekitike.
Hugo Ekitike scores a goal in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images
Eintracht Frankfurt lay out Hugo Ekitike demand to Newcastle United
The Bundesliga club want Newcastle United to pay more money for the 23-year-old, while there is the threat of the Magpies’ move being hijacked by Liverpool. That will depend on Alexander Isak, who Newcastle state is not for sale.
As for Ekitike, Toon officials need to up their offer by about £16million.
That is according to the i Paper, who report that Frankfurt want to receive around £86million for the French forward.
For reference, that is £34million less than what Liverpool want to pay for Isak.
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The ball is back in Newcastle United’s court, as they weigh up whether or not to up their offer. Geordie Boot Boys reported on Monday night that they felt £78million would potentially be enough to strike a deal, but that was before the Liverpool and Isak situation emerged.
Where Hugo Ekitike deal would rank alongside the Premier League’s most expensive transfers
Newcastle United’s most expensive signing is Isak at £63million, but the Magpies have already shown intent to break that record by bringing in Ekitike.
But they must increase their bid to around £86million to satisfy Frankfurt’s demands, which is the equivalent of €100million.
If Newcastle do give in to Frankfurt’s demands, they will be completing one of the most expensive signings in Premier League history. A €100million deal for Ekitike would make him the 8th most expensive player in Premier League history, in between Paul Pogba and Antony.
Most expensive signings in Premier League history (via Transfermarkt):
Florian Wirtz €125m
Enzo Fernandez €121m
Jack Grealish €117.5m
Declan Rice €116.6m
Moises Caicedo €116m
Romelu Lukaku €113m
Paul Pogba €105m
Antony €95m
It is a huge amount of money for the Magpies to commit, at a time when they continue to be wary of PSR.
Eddie Howe has other signings he wants to make on top of bringing in a forward, with a goalkeeper and a centre-back also on the agenda. A new centre-midfielder could be required too, amid Sean Longstaff’s looming move to Leeds United.