Newcastle United will step up their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike in the summer transfer window with staff convinced that Reims’ Ligue 1 starlet will be a ‘major success’ in the Premier League, according to the Northern Echo.
Now, we don’t want to jinx things but, if Ekitike is willing to follow Bruno Guimaraes across the Channel, completing a deal could be little more than a formality.
After all, Newcastle have already agreed a fee with Reims. They rubber stamped an initial £25 million agreement during the January window.
A further £8 million will be paid in add-ons, catapulting the teenager into the club’s top three most expensive acquisitions of all time, alongside Guimaraes and a resurgent Joelinton.
What’s more, Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot is at pains to point out that he will not stand in Ekitike’s way.
“In Hugo’s case, he would his waste time staying with us,” Caillot admits.
“We refused an offer of 35 million euros this winter (from Newcastle), which is a lot of money for a club like ours.
“Hugo will be allowed to go. And he’s probably going to leave. There wasn’t a big club that didn’t inquire for him.”
Newcastle want Hugo Ekitike
Winning over Ekitike may be the biggest challenge facing Newcastle as they look to belatedly complete the signing of a player who was just six months old when Alan Shearer thumped that iconic volley into the back of the Everton net in December 2002.
Ekitike’s agent explains that doubts over Newcastle’s ‘project’ and ‘short-term plan’ saw a January move fall apart. The club’s ongoing pursuit of Ligue 1’s breakthrough star should, at least, convince Ekitike that he will have a leading role at one of Europe’s most ambitious football clubs.
According to the Echo, Newcastle’s recruitment staff are beleive Ekitike will be a big success in the Premier League. The France U20 international remains one of their top transfer targets.
Ekitike has 10 goals in 24 games during his first full campaign as a first-team player at Reims.
Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham are reportedly keen too.
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