Aaron Stokes has revealed on the Everything is Black and White podcast a potentially big blow to Newcastle United’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike.
It has been reported by the famous Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano that a five-year contract is on the table for Hugo Ekitike to join Newcastle, although Luke Edwards has reported in the Telegraph that any deal is still not close with a few things still to iron out.
The Magpies tried to bring in Ekitike in January and it appears obvious why with the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain now said to hold an interest in signing the 19-year old striker this summer, something that is seemingly causing a problem for the Magpies.
Stokes has claimed that interest from those two clubs could be holding up this deal.
“He’s clearly a talented player – it’s not just Newcastle that are after him. Dortmund have obviously bookmarked him as a potential Haaland replacement; PSG, like a lot of French youngsters, are sniffing around as well.
Will Ekitike be good signing for Newcastle?
Yes!
No!
“So that seems to be the only real stumbling block, I think, and this is whether he wants to take the plunge and come to this side, where he might not even be first-choice, really.”
TIF Thoughts on the Ekitike deal…
It would seemingly be a major coup if Newcastle could pull off this £25.6 million deal that’s recently been reported by Sky Sports as no other teenage striker scored more league goals than Ekitike this season across Europe’s top five leagues, as well as notching up three assists.
Luke Edwards has also reported that following the official announcement of Dan Ashworth beginning his role at Newcastle, the deal to sign Ekitike should speed things up and thus help the Magpies finally get their summer business up and running.