NEWCASTLE UNITED could rekindle their interest in Hugo Ekitike this summer, with Paris St Germain boss Christophe Galtier admitting the 20-year-old is “not happy” in the French capital.

Ekitike was one of the Magpies’ leading attacking targets in last season’s January transfer window, with his former club, Reims, turning down at least one formal offer for the striker.

Newcastle rekindled their interest last summer, but eventually turned to Alexander Isak instead after Ekitike completed a move to Paris St Germain.

The French champions agreed a season-long loan deal for the youngster, and also agreed to a mandatory clause that will result in them signing him permanently this summer for a fee of around €35m.

Things have not gone to plan over the course of the last nine months, though, with Ekitike having failed to establish himself as a regular presence in the PSG starting line-up.

The forward has made just eight senior starts in all competitions, the most recent of which came in a 3-1 defeat to Monaco in mid-February.

He was an unused substitute in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Lens, leading to increased speculation that PSG will look to move him on when his transfer from Reims becomes permanent this summer.

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Galtier insists there has been no personal breakdown in his personal relationship with the France Under-20 international, but admits Ekitike is far from happy with his current situation.

“There is no problem,” said Galtier. “Huge works seriously, he even works more. But there is also the architecture of the team. He is facing very strong competition with Kylian (Mbappe) and Leo (Messi), who are very successful.

“We will see what will happen in the next matches. There is no problem between Hugo and me. He is not happy, but he is working.”

Newcastle have revisited previous targets on a number of occasions to push through a deal, with Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman and Anthony Gordon all having joined the Magpies after an initial attempt to prise them from their former club was rebuffed.

The Magpies’ recruitment team have long regarded Ekitike as an exciting prospect, and while they would be unlikely to offer the same sum that PSG agreed to pay Reims last summer given the youngster’s lack of involvement this season, they would be interested in entering into talks.

Centre-forward is not necessarily a priority this summer, with Isak and Callum Wilson both having been in good form in the last few months, but Newcastle are keen to remain flexible if an attractive transfer proposition emerges.