Newcastle ‘almost certain’ to pay £86m if Hugo Ekitike transfer goes through
Newcastle have responded to the disappointment of missing out on Joao Pedro to Chelsea by reigniting their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike.
The Magpies have finally got their transfer window off the ground with the capture of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, but have been frustrated by an inability to sign Pedro from Brighton or Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.
Football Insider also understands Newcastle are ready to offer a new bid James Trafford bid at Burnley that would total nearly £40million after protracted negotiations for the English keeper.
Ekitike has twice been a target at St. James’ Park before without success but the club are now eyeing a third crack at the Frenchman as a possible supporting forward to star man Alexander Isak.
Hugo Ekitike has huge release clause at Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt are not expected to make it easy to sign the man they brought in from PSG permanently last summer following a loan spell.
The 23-year-old scored 22 goals in all competitions last term and according to The Telegraph has a release clause in his contract worth around €100million (£86m).
If Newcastle are to be successful in their pursuit of Ekitike they are reportedly “almost certainly” going to have to pay the entire amount.
Eddie Howe’s spending power has been the subject of much speculation following profit and sustainability restrictions and the ongoing frustrations with other targets.
Eddie Howe’s frustrations may have told
If Newcastle have the capacity to spend such a big figure on Ekitike the club’s fans might justifiably wonder why the transfer dealings have been such an ordeal otherwise.
And if they are hoping to get a deal done for a reduced price they may be setting themselves up for yet more frustration this summer.
Howe will no doubt be pleased to land Elanga for up to £55m [Sky Sports] but can’t have been delighted with how proceedings have gone since the end of the season otherwise.
If the club have suddenly decided to break the bank on a goal scorer it may be that the manager has made his displeasure known.
But with the likes of Liverpool also interested in Ekitike as Darwin Nunez looks set to leave Anfield there remains the threat of losing out on yet another big-name forward, after Pedro to Chelsea and Mbeumo, seemingly, to Man United.