An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Stade Reims gem Hugo Ekitike…
What’s the talk?
Transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the Magpies are set to pursue a deal for the French centre-forward at the end of the season.
PIF came close to sealing a swoop for the youngster in the January transfer window only to fall at the last hurdle on deadline day.
They reportedly agreed a fee of £33m with the Ligue 1 side, but the player decided that he was better off waiting until the summer before making a decision on the next step in his career.
Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Ekitike, I think they’re going after him no matter what. So, I’d say that he is the most likely striker that they’ll sign.”
Eddie Howe will be buzzing
The Toon boss will surely be buzzing by this update as the attacker would be a fantastic addition to his squad heading into the next Premier League campaign.
Should Newcastle sign Ekitike?
Goalscoring has been a cause for concern throughout the season for the Magpies in the sense that they have not been able to rely on one, or two, players to find the back of the net on a regular basis. Callum Wilson has not kicked a ball in anger since December and leads the charts for the club on six strikes in the division, with Allan Saint-Maximin’s tally of five the next best.
Chris Wood was brought to Tyneside in January to bolster Howe’s depth at the top end of the pitch and he has been unable to showcase the best of his abilities. He has scored twice in 14 starts, once from open play, as he failed to hit the ground running in front of goal.
Ekitike, meanwhile, has scored nine goals in 14 Ligue 1 starts for Reims this season, whilst also contributing two assists. He has been able to show off his finishing ability in the French top-flight and Howe would surely love to have a player with that level of quality in the final third as an option next season.
The ex-Cherries coach will also be excited by the gem’s potential. At the age of 19, he is in the infancy of his career and is already proving that he can make an impact in a top European league. This suggests that he has the scope for a vast improvement in the years to come and Howe will want to be the one who helps him explode in Europe as a striker.
AND in other news: Howe can unearth his own Ginola in Newcastle’s rarely-seen 19 y/o “bright talent”…
