Pundit slams ‘naive’ PIF as details emerge on £29.3m Newcastle bid for Ekitike
Noel Whelan has urged the new Newcastle United board to “put their money where their mouth is” after failing in a bid for Reims striker Hugo Ekitike.
The former Leeds forward, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested club chiefs have shown their “naivety” during the winter transfer window.
Speaking to French publication Le Quotidien Du Sport on Wednesday (19 January), Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot confirmed Newcastle tabled a bid worth a potential £29.3million (€35million) for Ekitike.
However, Caillot revealed a significant portion of the bid was made up of bonuses.
One of those was for if Newcastle win the Champions League.
Whelan insisted Newcastle need to commit to spending now, rather than trying to negotiate “unrealistic” bonuses.
“I think this is where the naivety of new owners come in,” Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“When they’ve not been in the business for a very long time, they’ve got to be realistic. You’ve never been in touch, nowhere near, not even in striking distance to European football, let alone Champions League football.
“We know for a fact that building that team is not going give them Champions League football in one season. It’s just not.
“Look at what Liverpool had to do to be consistently there. Man City are consistently there. Chelsea are consistently there. This is not going to happen overnight, no matter how much money Newcastle have.
“Putting in these bonuses, even an FA Cup bonus, right now is unrealistic. If you want that player, put your money where your mouth is. Do the deal and get them into the football club.”
Caillot confirmed Reims are looking for at least £25million (€30million) up front for Ekitike.
They are also seeking a further £8.3million (€10million) in bonuses.
Newcastle’s only signings this month have been Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier.
In other news, Newcastle United tipped to pull off “brilliant” signing next week after source reveal.