Newcastle 'hope to agree' £86m deal for Man Utd and Liverpool target with awkward history

Newcastle United are hoping to agree a big-money deal for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, according to reports. The Frenchman has been admired by senior figures at St James' Park for years, but he snubbed their advances to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in 2022.

The Magpies may also face high-profile competition to lure him to the north-east this summer. Manchester United and Liverpool are just two of the big clubs following Ekitike, who was also linked with Chelsea before Enzo Maresca bolstered his attacking ranks by beating Newcastle to the signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton earlier this month.

Ekitike's Frankfurt contract includes an £86million release clause, and The Telegraph claim that Newcastle would 'almost certainly' have to fork out the full amount in order to complete the deal.

That sum would make him the Toon's all-time record signing. And it would be an eyebrow-raising splurge given that Ekitike would most likely play understudy to Alexander Isak, unless manager Eddie Howe can find a way to play them as a partnership.

There is also the possibility that Newcastle are looking to bring Ekitike on board in anticipation of Isak's eventual departure. Practically every top side in the Premier League is keen on Isak, but Newcastle have so far successfully fended off interest by pinning him with a massive price tag, believed to be at least £150m.

Ekitike has an awkward past with Newcastle, having come close to signing for them in the winter of 2022 and then the following summer before U-turning and heading for PSG instead.

Newcastle chiefs will be desperate to avoid a third humiliation after what, in many ways, has been a frustrating start to the current window for Howe and the fans.

Joao Pedro was a concrete target before he signed for Chelsea, Marc Guehi is an aspirational centre-back signing but he has been heavily linked with Liverpool, and long-standing interest in Bryan Mbeumo looks set to come to nothing as he closes in on a move to Old Trafford.

Newcastle have signed teenage prospect Antonio Cordero from Malaga, and their transfer window truly got moving earlier this week when they signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest in a £55m deal. But Howe will be desperate to strengthen his side further before the new season gets underway.

Ekitike enjoyed by far the best campaign of his career last term, scoring 22 goals in all competitions, including 15 in the Bundesliga.