It appears there are not one, but two players who are currently trying to see if they can secure a move elsewhere than Newcastle United.
The first, as you’ll be sorely aware of by now, is Sven Botman, who wants to move to Milan instead of St James’ Park, and is trying to force the issue.
Newcastle are offering Lille more than the Italians, and there appears to be a similar situation taking place with Hugo Ekitike.
The Magpies agreed a deal with Stade de Reims over the young striker’s transfer some time ago, but RMC Sport are reporting on Friday that the 19-year-old that while he ‘had given his agreement’, he has since ‘decided to wait before acting a transfer’.
It’s stated Ekitike, ‘for a few days now’, has decided to ‘take his time before taking the step and definitely accept the offer’ from Newcastle.
That’s because the player and his entourage ‘want to have all the options possible on the table before taking a decision’.
Paris Saint-Germain are among other clubs said to be interested, but they have themselves put any deals on hold as they seek a new manager.
Elsewhere, ‘many German clubs also can’t accelerate and respond to Newcastle’s offensive for now’, but it’s pointed out that Newcastle ‘won’t wait forever and have started to activate plan Bs’ in case the Ekitike deal falls through.