Newcastle United are making waves in the transfer market once again, this time turning their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. The Magpies are reportedly intensifying efforts to sign the prolific French forward—a pursuit that could carry significant implications for Premier League rivals Liverpool and their interest in Newcastle’s star striker, Alexander Isak.
Newcastle Shift Gears After Elanga Arrival
After sealing a £55 million deal for Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, Newcastle are wasting no time pushing ahead with further reinforcements. According to The Telegraph, the club has rekindled its interest in 23-year-old Hugo Ekitike—an attacking talent they’ve pursued in previous windows but missed out on twice.
Ekitike turned down Newcastle for PSG in January 2022 and later moved to Frankfurt last summer for a modest £14.3 million. However, the striker’s impressive tally of 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions last season has reignited interest on Tyneside.
Big Price Tag, Bigger Ambitions
Eintracht Frankfurt are reportedly holding out for Ekitike’s full release clause, believed to be around €100 million (£86m). Despite the steep valuation, Newcastle have already informed the player’s representatives of their interest and could look to strike a deal—especially after Frankfurt moved to sign Jonathan Burkardt from Mainz for £18 million, a likely replacement.
While Manchester United are also said to admire Ekitike, financial constraints and the need to offload players may take them out of serious contention. Chelsea, meanwhile, appear to have cooled their interest following their acquisitions of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
Liverpool Watching Closely as Isak Future Looms
Liverpool have been keeping a close eye on both Ekitike and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, the latter considered a “dream target” for the Reds. Newcastle, though, insist that signing Ekitike wouldn’t mean parting with their Swedish star. The club reportedly plans to offer Isak a new contract later this summer and remain firm in their stance against selling him.
However, conflicting reports suggest otherwise. Transfer insider Graeme Bailey recently told TBR Football that Newcastle are actively preparing for the possibility of Isak’s departure. “They are doing work on potential replacements for Isak too,” Bailey said. “And Ekitike is one of them.”
If Ekitike does arrive on Tyneside, it may not just be for squad depth or rotation—his signing could signal the beginning of a bigger shake-up.
What It Means for the Transfer Landscape
With Frankfurt appearing open to negotiations below the full €100m clause, Newcastle might just have a chance to land one of Europe’s hottest young forwards. For Liverpool, Ekitike’s move to St. James’ Park could be a double-edged sword—either complicating their pursuit of Isak or potentially clearing the way, should Newcastle soften their stance on a sale.
As the summer window heats up, Newcastle’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike is one to watch—not just for what it means on Tyneside, but across the entire Premier League.
