1 day ago
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Deal in works
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Newcastle United are preparing an offer to sign Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt. Transfermarkt can confirm a report by The Athletic that the Premier League club are interested in signing the French forward. But sources have also stressed that there has been no direct contact between the clubs and that it would take a significant offer for Frankfurt to release the player.
What would be a significant offer? Frankfurt, who have sold Randal Kolo Muani for €95 million to Paris Saint-Germain and Omar Marmoush for €75m to Man City over the last 24 months, will ask for a significant fee to allow Ekitiké to leave this summer. The Eagles are experienced negotiators and in the past have always gotten their way on the transfer market. Sources have pointed out that the 23-year-old striker is currently under contract until 2029, and there is no exit clause in his deal.
The Bundesliga club signed Ekitiké on loan from PSG in February 2024 for €3.5m and then made the deal permanent for another €16.5m the following summer. PSG will receive a percentage of any future transfer. Since his arrival, Ekitiké has increased his market from €15m to €75m. Newcastle now plan to offer that exact fee to sign the striker from Frankfurt.
€75m+ - Why are Newcastle desperate to sign Hugo Ekitiké?
Interest in Ekitiké has been high. Ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea showed interest in Ekitiké. At one point, Arsenal, before they pivoted to first Benjamin Sesko and then eventually Viktor Gyökeres, were interested. Newcastle are now the latest club to come in for the Frankfurt forward.
Why are Newcastle interested in Ekitiké? That’s an excellent question. Ekitiké is a very similar profile to Swedish forward Alexander Isak. With Newcastle in for Ekitiké, what does that mean for Isak’s future with the Magpies? As for Isak, Newcastle will get a player who last season finally fulfilled the high expectations placed in him when PSG signed him for €28.5m from Stade Reims in 2023.
In 2024/25, Ekitiké scored 15 goals and eight assists in 33 Bundesliga games. In a season in which Frankfurt lost top scorer Marmoush to Man City, Ekitiké was crucial to help Frankfurt finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League. As previously highlighted on Transfermarkt, Ekitiké is a complete forward who can play as a no.9 but also on the wing. Enormously talented and fast, there is also a sense that he can reach another level. Whether that will be in Frankfurt or perhaps in Newcastle remains to be seen.
