Newcastle are pushing ahead with a transfer for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike – and want him to partner Alexander Isak up front, not replace him.
Ekitike contributed 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 games for Frankfurt last season to help them qualify for the Champions League. He has attracted interest from a whole host of clubs this summer, including Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United, but Newcastle are determined to land him.
The Magpies are short up front after Callum Wilson decided to leave the club as a free agent, rather than sign a new deal. They completed a £55million deal for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga and now want to sign Ekitike to add real strength and depth up front.
Newcastle have held talks with Frankfurt in Germany over the past week and have now stepped up their pursuit with further discussions while on a pre-season trip to Austria, according to Sky Sports. Ekitike, 23, has a release clause of €100m (£86m) and Frankfurt are in a strong position to negotiate, with the France under-21 striker under contract until June 2029.
That fee is way above the club-record £63m fee Newcastle paid Real Sociedad for Isak in August 2022. Newcastle are trying to negotiate a lower fee of around €75m (£65m), but that potential transfer fee raises major questions about the club’s finances.
The Athletic reports that a move for Ekitike without selling Isak, who has been eyed by Liverpool, would create problems with the profit and sustainability rules. But Eddie Howe is certain that he wants both of the strikers and could play them alongside each other – something that would mean a change in formation.
Isak scored 23 Premier League goals last season as the sole centre-forward and the arrival of Elanga increases the competition for places on the flanks, where Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy play.
Newcastle tried to sign Ekitike in January 2022, but a £20m transfer fell through on deadline day. They have continued to monitor his progress and have been impressed with his form for Frankfurt, who signed him in a deal worth €17.5m last summer.
The German side have proven to be good sellers in recent years, letting Omar Marmoush go for €75m (£65m) to Manchester City in January and selling Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain for €95m in 2023.
Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche recently told Sport1 : “He’s one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that. I’m glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that’s our motto: If a player develops faster than us, we let him go.”