Newcastle’s €80m bid for Hugo Ekitike rejected – Sky Germany explain why

Newcastle United’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike has taken an unexpected turn following the rejection of a formal €80 million bid by Eintracht Frankfurt.

Despite recent optimism and reports from ESPN suggesting that a deal was nearly finalized, Sky Germany has now revealed that the Bundesliga club has turned down Newcastle’s offer, citing issues primarily with the structure of the proposed payment terms.

While the total value of the bid may have aligned with Frankfurt’s valuation of the player on the surface, the finer financial details appear to have fallen short of expectations.

According to Florian Plettenberg, a respected Sky Germany journalist, Frankfurt were dissatisfied with how Newcastle structured the payments within the €80 million proposal.

Though the precise breakdown of the deal remains undisclosed, it’s understood that Frankfurt may have been seeking a significantly higher upfront sum or more favorable guarantees within the installment schedule.

Plettenberg also reported that Frankfurt’s sporting director, Markus Krösche, wants more than what Newcastle currently tabled. The message from the club is clear: either improve the terms or risk losing out on Ekitike altogether.

More intriguingly, Krösche hinted that other clubs have already expressed a willingness to surpass Newcastle’s proposal—a statement that raises eyebrows and questions. If such interest exists and if other clubs are prepared to pay more, why haven’t they submitted formal offers?

There’s a strong possibility this is a tactical move from Frankfurt. By signaling the presence of rival suitors, they could be attempting to exert pressure on Newcastle to increase their bid, adjust the payment schedule, or move more decisively.

It’s a familiar ploy in high-stakes transfers: amplify market interest to create urgency and extract the best possible deal.

However, it cannot be ruled out that other clubs may indeed be lurking in the background, waiting for Newcastle’s negotiation to falter before swooping in.

The Premier League remains awash with clubs searching for attacking reinforcements, and Ekitike’s 22-goal season in Germany has made him one of the continent’s hottest forward prospects.

Clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, and even some from Italy and Spain have been linked with the 23-year-old in recent windows, and all it might take is a single phone call to shift the dynamic of the deal.

For Newcastle, the rejection will be frustrating, especially considering the time and effort already invested in this transfer.

The Magpies have come close to landing Ekitike on two previous occasions, only for the deals to collapse at the final stages. This third attempt initially looked like a done deal, particularly with reports that super-agent Ali Barat was on site, ironing out the last formalities ahead of a medical and final agreement.

That optimism has now given way to a more complex negotiation, and Newcastle must act fast. With pre-season underway and the need to strengthen the attacking line before the new campaign begins, the club cannot afford to let this drag on unnecessarily.

Newcastle’s leadership, including sporting director Dan Ashworth and manager Eddie Howe, face the challenge of recalibrating their offer without losing momentum or triggering a protracted bidding war.

The coming days will be crucial. Newcastle must either return to Frankfurt with a revised bid that meets the club’s financial expectations or prepare for the potential of competing offers from rival teams.

The goal remains clear: secure Ekitike and avoid another near-miss that could haunt the club for a third time in as many years.