Reims coach Oscar Garcia wants a replacement for Hugo Ekitike with Premier League trio Arsenal, West Ham and Newcastle United pushing to sign the Ligue 1 hotshot, speaking via Made In Foot.
But, despite shaking hands with Reims on a £33 million deal, Ekitike obviously needs some convincing before joining Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and co at St James’ Park.
According to the teenager’s agent, there were concerns ‘about the sports project’ and Newcastle’s ‘short-term plan’.
It remains to be seen whether a sudden upturn in form since the January transfer window – Eddie Howe’s side have won seven out of 11 games to leave the relegation zone behind – is enough to change Ekitike’s mind ahead with a new approach expected over the summer.
Is Hugo Ekitike heading to England?
French publication But Football Club claim that Arsenal sent scouts to watch Ekitike last month. The Gunners, as things stand, will not have a single senior centre-forward in their ranks on July 1st, with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out the door.
West Ham are also in the market for a new number nine. They also submitted a bid in January, albeit one much lower than Newcastle’s (Le10 Sport).
“We have to recruit very well up front because we may lose our top scorer,” former Brighton coach Garcia said this weekend, admitting that Reims are unlikely to retain Ekitike’s services for another season.
“Our second-best striker has only 2 goals. When you look at Rennes, they have (Serhou) Guirassy with eight or nine goals on the bench. Our best striker only has nine.”
‘Only nine’ maybe but Ekitike’s return – in his first full season of regular top-flight football – is not to be sniffed at. It is largely down to him that Reims supporters can rest easy over the next few weeks, safe in the knowledge that they’ll be plying their trade in Ligue 1 again in 2022/23.
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