‘Much more pressing’ – Strong Newcastle United attempt for signing, ‘eventful’ summer ahead

Ahead of the January window, there weren’t many fans of Premier League clubs demanding their side sign Hugo Ekitike from Reims.

The 19-year-old is enjoying a breakthrough season, with eight goals in 18 Ligue 1 matches so far during the current campaign.

That saw him linked with a number of clubs in January, and Newcastle United were among them. L’Equipe take a look at the situation on Friday, and they insist the youngster had a ‘lucrative’ offer from the Magpies on Monday.

Newcastle had returned to the charge with ‘much more pressing’, after an approach earlier in the winter market, and tried everything to convince the youngster and those who represent him.

L’Equipe explain that a French intermediary, who is ‘well established in England’, had been the point of contact, and that could well be where the interest started.

A move of around €40m would have been a huge risk for all involved, apart from Reims, and what Ekitike does between now and the end of the season will be key.

The French newspaper say there’s an ‘eventful’ summer ahead regarding the player’s transfer future. Newcastle will have to decide if they want to be a part of that.