Newcastle United could be in for a transfer tussle this summer after French champions Paris Saint-Germain has cast their eye on long-time Magpies target Hugo Ekitike.
Per reports in French outlet Foor Mercato, PSG has gained interest in the 20-year-old native of Reims and club academy graduate this summer, which could potentially throw a spanner in the works of Newcastle’s transfer plans before the upcoming 2022-23 Premier League campaign as the St. James’ Park outfit look to source a long-term center-forward on Tyneside.
? Le PSG veut Hugo Ekitike mais n’égalera pas l’offre de 40 M€ de Newcastle.
Ekitike veut aller au PSG et il n’exclut pas de rester à Reims quelques mois s’il faut convaincre le PSG de faire une offre de ce montant.
(@footmercato) pic.twitter.com/hDRm0FXR77
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) July 9, 2022
But PSG does not have a free pathway to Ekitike this summer, however, after the capital outfit is reportedly unwilling to match Newcastle’s existing offer that was previously tabled by the potential Premier League upstarts.
The Magpies have already made an official offer in the amount of £34million to Stade Reims at the beginning of July, but Reims manager Oscar Garcia already made it known that the French youth international could easily see himself remaining with his hometown side in the upcoming Ligue 1 season, which has seemingly leveled any chance that Newcastle may have had to land the U20 center-forward.
Additionally, Ekitike could choose to stay in Reims to hopefully persuade PSG to meet the club’s asking price for his services, lending further weight to the notion that he would prefer a move to the French capital over picking Newcastle as his next port of call.
Though Eddie Howe’s outfit has secured deals for Sven Botman, Nick Pope, and Matt Targett, the need for a long-term solution at center-forward is surely a priority given the club’s current options through Callum Wilson, Chris Wood, and Dwight Gayle are all on the wrong side of 30, missing out on Ekitike could be a considerable blow as the summer progresses and potential options fall off the table.
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