Newcastle have made their stance clear on Alexander Isak clear – despite launching a club record bid for Hugo Ekitike.
Ekitike, 23, was on fire in the Bundesliga, netting 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 matches for Frankfurt, helping them secure a Champions League spot. His performance has caught the eye of several clubs this summer, including Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.
However, Newcastle are could be in the driving seat to try and sign him. The Magpies are short of numbers up top, after Callum Wilson left the club. And they’ve already shelled out £55million for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga.
Newcastle have been in talks with Frankfurt in Germany over the past week and have ramped up their efforts with further discussions during a pre-season jaunt to Austria, Sky Sports reports.
Ekitike has a release clause of €100m (£86m) and Frankfurt hold all the cards in negotiations, with the France under-21 striker tied down until June 2029.
This fee far exceeds the club-record £63m that Newcastle forked out for Isak from Real Sociedad in August 2022. Newcastle are trying to haggle the price down to around €75m (£65m), but the potential transfer fee raises serious concerns about the club’s financial situation.
The Athletic claims that signing Ekitike without offloading Isak, a reported tar Liverpool target, would raise issues with profit and sustainability regulations.
Nevertheless, Eddie Howe is keen on having both strikers at his disposal and is open to playing them together, which would likely involve a tactical reshuffle.
Isak notched 23 goals last season as the lone striker in the Prem, while the addition of Elanga increases competition for spots on the wings, where Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, and Jacob Murphy operate.
Newcastle previously attempted to land Ekitike in January 2022, but a £20m deal collapsed on deadline day. The club has continued to track his progress and has been impressed by his performances for Frankfurt, who signed him for €17.5m last summer.