Newcastle United transfer news: Hugo Ekitike has again spoken about snubbing a move to Newcastle United to instead join Liverpool during the summer window.
Eddie Howe’s side travel to Anfield on Saturday night (8pm kick-off) aiming for their first win away at Liverpool since 1994. The Magpies have lost six of their last seven matches away against the Reds, with their only draw in that time coming during the 2020/21 season in a match that was played behind-closed-doors.
If they have any hopes of winning this weekend, then they will have to keep Ekitike quiet. The Frenchman netted in the reverse fixture back at St James’ Park and will more than likely lead the line for Arne Slot’s side this weekend.
Hugo Ekitike discusses Newcastle United transfer snub
Ekitike will have to lead the line this weekend in the absence of Alexander Isak who will miss a reunion against his former employers through injury. Before the Swedish international moved to Anfield, for a British record fee of £130m, the Reds had confirmed the capture of Ekitike during a summer of lavish spending.
Liverpool swooped amid interest from Tyneside in Ekitike and added the Frenchman to their roster under the noses of the Magpies. Having already been twice rejected by the striker, missing out on Ekitike’s signature again this summer was a big blow for Newcastle United - but, as he admitted following Liverpool’s thumping 6-0 win over Qarabag on Wednesday night, it wasn’t a tough decision for Ekitike to make: “Obviously we were close but I made my choice. I knew where I wanted to come so that’s all I can give to you.”
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“I play for Liverpool, I have my fans here. We played there already [at St James’ Park] and won so hopefully we will have a great week of working.”
Asked whether he will be affected by any noise from the away end at Anfield on Saturday, Ekitike responded: “I don’t care about this. I just want to play and help the team. Simple.”
The Frenchman was then asked for an assessment of his first season in England and start to life at Anfield. He responded: “I would say good. Obviously I could do better, I could do worse.
“I’m pretty happy. The most important thing was to set up outside of the pitch with my team-mates, that’s a big thing.
“Everything I do outside with my team-mates, training, I think I’ve settled in well and that helps me to perform. So I would say I’m happy but I’m hungry for more and I expect more from myself so I have to keep working.
“I want to make my team win, that’s the most important. Hopefully I will score a good amount of goals but I don’t really even think about this.
“I want to play good and help the team because I know sometimes I know I’m not going to score but I can give assists or make runs and someone else will score. Obviously I’m a striker so I need to score goals but I need to do a lot of stuff to help the team.”
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