Journalist Ben Jacobs has dropped a worrying update on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike while speaking on the NUFC Matters YouTube channel.
Last week, it appeared that Newcastle were edging closer in their pursuit of January transfer target Ekitike, with reports claiming that a fee had been agreed and a five-year deal was on the table for the striker, only for him to pick up an injury while on international duty.
Ekitike was forced off after just a few minutes for France’s Under-20s, however, he was on the bench for their following game against Venezuela on Sunday, which would suggest that the knock isn’t too serious – although that hamstring injury isn’t the only hurdle the Magpies still have to overcome before completing the signing.
This is because Jacobs has claimed that a whole host of European clubs – including two Premier League sides – are still interested in signing Ekitike this summer.
Will Newcastle sign Ekitike?
Yes!
No!
He said: “I think Newcastle remain confident that they are the frontrunners in this deal, but they’re well aware, glancing over their shoulder, that there is other interest coming, particularly from Europe.
“When I spoke to people close to Ekitike, I was told that Ajax are looking, that Bayern have scouted in the past, that two other Premier League clubs – who were unnamed to me – have also been tracking him since January.”
TIF Thoughts on the Ekitike deal…
It’s been reported that Newcastle will have to pay around £25m for Ekitike, and although a lot of that wouldn’t have to be paid upfront, according to Luke Edwards, they will have to move quickly if they wish to beat the likes of Bayern Munich and Ajax to his signature.
Fabrizio Romano reported last week that Ektike’s agent was due on Tyneside today, but his hamstring injury may have slowed things down as that appears to no longer be the case. The Magpies will surely want this deal to speed up, especially with Dan Ashworth now at the club.