Newcastle United transfers: According to French media, Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike will be available again this summer.
In January and June of last year, the 20-year-old forward turned down the chance to join Newcastle from Ligue 1 side Reims, instead joining PSG on loan. During the 2022-23 season, he scored four goals in 32 appearances for PSG, but he came off the bench for more than half of them.
PSG has a £29.24 million option to buy Ekitike, which they intend to exercise this summer before selling him. According to RMC Sport, PSG has informed Ekitike’s agent that they are willing to let him depart this summer.
The Ligue 1 winners will either sell the young forward for a quick profit or loan him out to acquire more playing time. Ekitike reportedly became disgruntled with his lack of playing time at PSG due to his position in the pecking order behind Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi.
While Messi has since left PSG and Neymar’s future is unknown, the French club is seeking to add Marcus Thuram and Victor Osimhen this summer, which could limit Ekitike’s options once again. Thuram and Osmihen have been linked with moves to Newcastle as well.
following a difficult first few months in Paris, Ekitike’s performances improved following the World Cup break as he received more playing time. He scored three goals in four games between November and January, his only Ligue 1 goals of the season.
Newcastle sanctioned two deals for Ekitike after identifying him as a priority attacking target because to his age and impressive record at Reims. Despite United accepting a transfer offer for the adolescent, a deal never materialized due to ‘excessive’ agent fees, according to club sources.
Instead, the Magpies paid a club record fee of £63 million to sign Alexander Isak.
Eddie Howe’s team are still looking for forward reinforcements this summer, with Isak and top scorer Callum Wilson the only senior strikers at the club. The Premier League’s summer transfer market opens on Wednesday, June 14.
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