Hugo Ekitike was set to join Newcastle United last summer before Liverpool made a late move for the forward
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool
Hugo Ekitike almost signed for Newcastle United last summer(Image: Kate McShane/Getty Images)
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Liverpool have hijacked another Newcastle United transfer target, less than a year after completing a move for Hugo Ekitike. The French forward was on the verge of joining the Magpies last summer but ultimately signed for the Reds.
The two clubs have now faced a repeat in their pursuits of Osasuna star Victor Munoz. The 22-year-old was wanted by Newcastle and several other teams but Liverpool got their man after triggering the winger’s £34.5million release clause.
Munoz has agreed a six-year deal at Anfield, becoming Andoni Iraola’s first signing as manager. The transfer bears a striking resemblance to how Ekitike arrived at the Reds last summer.
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In a season where the Reds’ recruitment came under scrutiny, the 23-year-old was a resounding success. The France international instantly began repaying his £79m fee after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ekitike scored 17 goals in all competitions, despite his campaign being cut short due to injury. However, the striker admitted during the campaign that he had almost signed for Newcastle.
Ahead of facing the Magpies in January, Ekitike said: “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.”
When asked about a possible hostile reception from Newcastle fans, he added: "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.”
Newcastle targeted several strikers during the last summer window. Manager Eddie Howe was looking to add firepower to his squad but agent Ali Barat revealed that Ekitike receiving a call from Liverpool led to a drastic change of plan.
Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Newcastle United
Ekitike scored three goals in two games against Newcastle last season(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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"Hugo Ekitike. I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle,” Barat told TuttoSport. “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."
Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Howe had admitted his interest in the forward before the Reds made their move. "I think there's no doubting that I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years,” Howe said. “He's someone that we've tracked for a long time."
In a further blow for Newcastle, Liverpool subsequently signed the club’s star striker Alexander Isak for a British record fee on deadline day. The Reds’ fresh move for Munoz marks the third time in a year that the club have impacted Newcastle’s transfer plans.
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