Hugo Ekitike almost joined Newcastle United in the summer before Liverpool swooped in for the striker and Magpies frontman Alexander Isak
Hugo Ekitike during Liverpool vs Newcastle United
Hugo Ekitike during Liverpool vs Newcastle(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
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Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike taunted Newcastle United fans during Saturday's 4-1 win at Anfield. Ekitike scored a brace against Eddie Howe's side and received a frosty reception from the visiting supporters.
The Magpies had initially planned to pair the Frenchman with Alexander Isak during pre-season. However, it was the Premier League champions who swooped in, finalising a £79million deal with Eintracht Frankfurt during their summer tour of the Far East in late July.
It is believed that Liverpool initiated discussions about the terms as early as January of the previous year. While Newcastle were hopeful of securing a club-record deal for Ekitike at the time, it was the Reds who emerged victorious in the race, also concluding a £125m deal for Isak from St James' Park.
And the France international has made his feelings on the Magpies clear. Ekitike was seen holding up the score, 3-1 at the time, with his fingers to the visiting fans.
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Ahead of the match against Newcastle, Ekitike was asked about the potential reception from the away end on Saturday.
He said: "I don't care. I play for Liverpool, I have my fans here, we played there (Newcastle) already and won so hopefully we will have a great week of working.
"I don't care about this, I just want to play and help the team. It is simple.
“Obviously we were close [to signing for Newcastle] but I made my choice. I knew where I wanted to come, so that's all I can give to you. Liverpool fans’ support means a lot. I play for the fans, they give me so much energy.
Hugo Ekitike scored twice against Newcastle
Hugo Ekitike scored twice for Liverpool against Newcastle(Image: 2026 Newcastle United via Getty Images)
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"Sometimes in games when I haven't scored you hear your name from the crowd and it's a great feeling. It was what I was dreaming of as a kid and it made me live that so I'm grateful and I want to give more to them to make them happy. We have the quality, I really believe things will go well.”
Nevertheless, Ekitike was very close to joining Newcastle, as agent Ali Barat would later reveal. He told TuttoSport: "Hugo Ekitike. I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle. I stayed in Germany for 10 days. We agreed everything with the German club and the player, then Liverpool called him and he chose Anfield."
Liverpool's win on Saturday has seen them move into the top five ahead of Manchester United's game against Fulham on Sunday afternoon. The Reds are next in action against Manchester City on Sunday, February 8 (4:30pm).
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