£29m striker who rejected Newcastle United ‘in talks’ with West Ham - but deal could be hijacked

West Ham United have held talks with Paris Saint-Germain over signing Hugo Ekitike - but they aren’t the only club showing interest. The French giants are ready to part ways with the 21-year-old - just 12 months after he decided to join them over Newcastle United.

Ekitike twice turned down a move to St James’ Park in January and the summer last year, despite the Magpies agreeing a reported £26million fee with Stade de Reims. Discussions with the player’s representatives stalled as they held out for a move to PSG. He eventually joined the Ligue 1 champions on a season-long loan deal, which included an obligation to buy at £29m.

Speaking after making the move, the France under-21 international said: “It is the choice of the heart! I’m French too, it’s the club of my homeland, of my country. And then it’s a club where the greatest players evolve, where there is a quality and experienced staff, the desire to win all the titles in all competitions.

“There is everything here for me to progress. All the ingredients are there, so it’s a logical choice for me to be here. Finally, I myself have family in the Paris region, and I have always followed Paris Saint-Germain. All this made my desire to join this club very natural. It’s the right choice for me to be here.

“I’m not setting aside everything Newcastle did for me to come. If I had to go abroad, I would have gone there. But when PSG wants you and you’re French, you can’t refuse.”

The young forward has struggled to make an impact at the Parc des Princes and his attitude was supposedly questioned throughout the 2022-23 season, where he scored four goals in 32 appearances but over half of those came off the bench.

West Ham have held talks with Ekitike but are set to face competition from Brentford and Eintracht Frankfurt. PSG have a long-term interest in Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani and Ekitike could be used in a potential swap deal.