(Football news) Newcastle United are closing in on signing Hugo Ekitike, with a reported fee worth up to £35 million which has been agreed with Reims for the striker. The Magpies are finally getting their man after missing out on him in the winter transfer window as the fans must have wondered whether Ekitike would ever end up on Tyneside. After weeks of speculation, the club have finally agreed a fee and Ekitike looks set to join the rebuild under the Saudi owners.
Ekitike had established himself as a regular for Reims in Ligue 1 during the 2021/22 campaign. He went on to score eleven goals in 26 appearances as the attacker has been capped at U20 level for France and his contract was set to expire in 2024 but Newcastle pulled the trigger now as he fits the scheme of Eddie Howe’s tactics. Newcastle were struggling under Steve Bruce but once Eddie Howe took over the club went on a brilliant run and ultimately ended up 11th in the Premier League in 2021/22 and they are expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed via Twitter that Ekitike has ‘agreed a five-year deal’ to join Newcastle. His move is all but as the ‘final details’ now need to be discussed. Romano stated that the fee for Ekitike will be €30m plus an extra €5m in add-ons. The club from north east saw off some big names from the Bundesliga in the form of Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. Ekitkei is also set to become Newcastle's first signing under new sporting director Dan Ashworth
Ekitike was scouted by the likes of Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and even Real Madrid took interest in him .The 6ft 2inch striker has risen rapidly since he made his professional footballing debut in 2020. He began his career at Cormontreuil FC before he signed for the Reims youth set-up in 2013. After coming through the academy at Reims, Ekitike finally made his debut with the club in a 3-1 loss to FC Lorient in October of 2020. In January of 2021, he was loaned out to Danish Superliga klub Vejle Boldklub for the rest of the season, where he found the net three times in 11 appearances but that was his stepping stone in his career.
He got the much needed confidence in his career as he single handedly carried Remis to 12th in the Ligue 1. This season he has often drawn comparisons to Kylian Mbappe because of his playing style as he likes to take the defenders on, with his pace and trickery. If he continues this way then Newcastle have got themselves a player not only for the future but also someone who takes up the goal scoring mantle. A France national team call up doesn’t look far for this 19 year old especially taking the league by storm this season.
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