Newcastle United handed fresh hope of sealing exciting £29m summer transfer

Hugo Ekitike will be allowed to leave Stade Reims this summer, which could see Newcastle United revisit a transfer.
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Newcastle United transfer target Hugo Ekitike is set to leave Stade Reims this summer - according to president Jean-Pierre Caillot.

The Magpies had a bid accepted for the French wonderkid on January deadline day, however the 19-year-old opted to see out the season in France rather than enter a Premier League relegation battle.

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Now Eddie Howe’s side have surged to safety with 10 wins since the turn of the year, a swoop for Ekitike could be revisited at the end of the campaign.

What Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot said

And Reims president Caillot has given the green light to Newcastle. He told Europe 1 (via Get French Football News): “In Hugo’s case, he would waste time staying with us.

“We refused an offer of €35million (£29m) this winter, which is a lot of money for a club like ours.

“That money will be used to grow and improve the club. Hugo will be allowed to go, and he’s probably going to leave.

“There wasn’t a big club that didn’t inquire for him.”

In the market for a striker

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Ekitike, who has scored nine goals in 21 appearances this season, has featured just four times in 2022 due to an ongoing hamstring issue.

Newcastle are expected to be in the market for a striker this summer with Callum Wilson, despite having not kicked a ball since December, remaining the club’s top scorer with six.

Chris Wood has led the line in his absence but has found the net just twice in 14 outings following his £25million move from Burnley in January.

Meanwhile, Dwight Gayle continues to be overlooked by Howe. The Magpies head coach rested Wood for the 3-0 win at Norwich City on Saturday but started Joelinton, a combative midfielder nowadays, as the central striker instead.