Stade de Reims manager Oscar Garcia has, on Friday, provided an update on the future of long-time Newcastle United target Hugo Ekitike.
The name of attacking sensation Ekitike has of course taken its place front and centre in the headlines on Tyneside for some time now.
This comes with the 20-year-old, after coming close to making the move to St. James’ Park during the January transfer window, having been widely tipped as being on the verge of linking up with Eddie Howe’s squad once more over the course of the last couple of weeks.
In fact, several sources went as far as to suggest that a deal was as good as done, owing to an agreement being struck between the respective transfer teams at Newcastle and Reims.
Hugo Ekitike deal. Newcastle and Reims have full agreement on €30m fee plus €5m add-ons, agent is now in talks with Newcastle after being given permission by Reims. ⭐️?? #NUFC
Work in progress as Newcastle have been leading the race for weeks.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 4, 2022
And yet, to this point, official confirmation of as much has not arrived.
Why? The continued efforts of Ekitike’s agents to drag out negotiations, in the hope of one of European football’s heavyweights entering the fray for the Frenchman’s services.
Speaking to the media on Friday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of the future of his side’s crown jewel was put to Reims boss Oscar Garcia.
And the ensuing comments on Garcia’s part only served to put the final nail in the coffin of Newcastle’s Ekitike pursuit.
This comes with the tactician having first revealed that his attacking star ‘wants to stay’, before hinting that Ekitike could only be swayed into a transfer should one of Spain’s two biggest clubs come calling:
Reims manager Oscar Garcia on Hugo Ekitike: “He told me he wanted to stay, but if Real Madrid or Barcelona are coming…
“Hugo feels calm. I have spoken with him. He will have no problem staying at the club and neither will I!”#NUFC pic.twitter.com/4uJ9g9DEu7
— Dominic Scurr (@DomScurr) July 1, 2022
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