HUGO EKITIKE has verbally agreed to join Paris St Germain, with the reigning French champions now attempting to agree a fee with the striker’s current employers, Reims.
Newcastle have ended their interest in Ekitike after it became clear the 20-year-old was holding out for a potential move to the Parc des Princes rather than looking to complete a switch to St James’ Park.
The Magpies agreed a fee of around £30m with Reims last month, but were unable to agree terms with Ekitike’s representatives over a proposed long-term deal on Tyneside.
It was quickly apparent that Ekitike’s agents were making unrealistic demands because their client had no intention of joining Newcastle, and around the same time, stories emerged in the French press linking Paris St Germain with the striker.
With Reims’ first-team squad returning to pre-season training this week, Ekitike is now understood to have given his verbal agreement to a potential move to Paris provided PSG officials can thrash out a deal with Reims.
PSG are not believed to be willing to match Newcastle’s original offer, which means the Reims hierarchy will have to decide whether to accept a lower bid or force Ekitike to remain with his current employers for at least the first half of next season.
“Hugo feels calm,” said Reims boss Oscar Garcia earlier this week. “I have spoken with him. He will have no problem staying at the club – and neither will I.”
Ekitike previously turned down a move to Newcastle in January, stating that he was not ready to move country and wanted to remain with Reims for the second half of last season.
Magpies head coach Eddie Howe remains keen to recruit another forward and wide attacker in the remaining month-and-a-half of the transfer window.
He has lodged a loan interest in Chelsea’s Armando Broja, but the Blues are yet to decide what to do with the Albania international, who spent last season on loan at Southampton. Everton are understood to be keen to sign Broja permanently, while West Ham are also ready to make a formal loan offer if Chelsea give the green light to the striker’s departure.
Newcastle also have a long-standing interest in Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but Frank Lampard is reluctant to lose another of his forwards in the wake of Richarlison’s recent move to Tottenham.
The Magpies’ main wide-attacking target remains Moussa Diaby, but Bayer Leverkusen have so far refused to lower their €60m asking price for the France international.
One of Newcastle’s players could complete a move away from the club today, with Ciaran Clark due to undergo a medical with Sheffield United this morning.
Clark is set to sign a season-long loan deal at Bramall Lane, which will effectively signal the end of his time on Tyneside as he has already entered the final year of his current Newcastle contract.
The Republic of Ireland international has made 129 senior appearances in all competitions since joining Newcastle in the summer of 2016, but was left out of Howe’s first-team squad for the second half of last season.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here