Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt has previously been linked with Newcastle
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt has previously been linked with Newcastle
Hugo Ekitike sent a brilliant reminder to Newcastle United with a stunning hattrick as transfer speculation resurfaced this week linking him with a move to the Magpies.
Newcastle made an attempt sign Ekitike during his time at Stade de Reims before the striker went on to join Paris Saint-Germain instead. The 22-year-old has since gone on to sign for Eintracht Frankfurt and is thriving with the Bundesliga club.
Ekitike has scored 19 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt this season, and added to his tally on Friday night for his country. The striker was in action for France Under-21s as they faced England in Lorient.
France claimed a 5-3 win over the Young Lions, with Ekitike scoring a hat-trick in the friendly match. The Frankfurt striker will have another opportunity to send a message to interested clubs when France face Slovakia on Monday night.
Ekitike, turned the Magpies down and joined PSG from Reims on a permanent deal in 2023 following a year on loan with the Ligue 1 club and enjoyed a loan spell with Frankfurt last season before the move was made permanent.
Various reports have claimed that Ekitike could be on the move again this summer, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that there is a growing expectation that the striker will leave Frankfurt at the end of the season.
Newcastle have yet to see their name mentioned on the rumour mill when it comes to potentially signing Ekitike in the summer.
The striker is rumoured to be a target for Manchester United and Liverpool and is under contract at Frankfurt until the summer of 2029, with the Bundesliga reportedly placing an €80million (£67million) price tag on his signature.
When asked about the Magpies interest in his services, Ekitike revealed he would have joined the Toon had PSG not entered negotiations. "I had an appointment with Luis (Campos) which meant a lot for me," he told Les Parisiens.
“It was not so long ago. We talked a lot, he is someone I consider enormously. I wanted to come to PSG before this exchange but it convinced me even more.
“I don’t put aside everything Newcastle did to get me to come. If I had to go abroad, I would have gone there. But when PSG wants you and you’re French, you can’t refuse.”
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