It’s now become clear why Newcastle ended pursuit of Hugo Ekitike

Newcastle United’s decision to walk away from the Hugo Ekitike deal has finally come into sharper focus following new insights from The Athletic, reported by Sebastian Stafford-Bloor and David Ornstein.

Earlier in the week, news broke that Newcastle had submitted a bid of €80 million (approximately £69.5 million) to Eintracht Frankfurt for the French striker.

While that figure raised eyebrows, especially given Ekitike’s relatively modest career accomplishments thus far, it seemed at the time that the Magpies were serious contenders. However, that stance shifted quickly—and now we know why.

According to The Athletic, Liverpool have stepped into the frame and are on the verge of sealing an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt for Ekitike. The proposed deal is set to break the German club’s transfer record, expected to surpass the €95 million (£82.3 million) mark set when Randal Kolo Muani was sold to PSG in 2023.

That puts Liverpool’s likely outlay for Ekitike at over £85 million—a figure that appears vastly inflated when placed against the striker’s overall resume.

While Ekitike did enjoy a standout 2024/25 campaign, scoring 15 Bundesliga goals, that single productive season does little to erase the inconsistency of the previous two.

After a promising 2021/22 season at Reims, where he notched 10 Ligue 1 goals, Ekitike managed just seven more league goals across two seasons with PSG and Frankfurt.

This limited output calls into question whether his sudden spike in form reflects genuine long-term potential or merely a temporary surge.

The updated report also clarifies that Newcastle’s actual bid was €75 million (£65 million), not the previously stated €80 million. That lower figure makes far more sense when measured against Ekitike’s track record, and suggests that Newcastle had drawn a sensible line in the sand.

For all the hype surrounding the young striker, committing more than £85 million, especially in today’s inflated market, feels reckless for a player with just one strong season in a league not on par with the Premier League’s intensity and competitiveness.

Eintracht Frankfurt, to their credit, have played their cards superbly. If they secure the reported £85 million from Liverpool, they’ll have extracted around £20 million more than what Newcastle offered, for a player still largely unproven at the top level.

That’s an extraordinary piece of business and speaks volumes about the level of desperation clubs like Liverpool face as the Premier League kickoff approaches.

In contrast, Newcastle’s interest seems to have pivoted toward Yoane Wissa. Despite being five years older than Ekitike and technically outside Newcastle’s typical recruitment profile, Wissa offers qualities that arguably suit the club’s current needs better.

What’s puzzling is the dismissive attitude of some fans toward the Brentford forward, especially given his performance last season.

Wissa, playing for a club that receives far less spotlight, managed 19 Premier League goals without relying on penalties—more than any other striker in the league without spot-kick duties.

His consistency, physicality, and proven ability to perform in England’s top flight make him a compelling option to complement Alexander Isak.

Whether as a partner or backup, Wissa’s presence would deepen the squad’s attacking depth and provide genuine reliability.

Newcastle’s strategy in backing away from the Ekitike deal appears more calculated than hesitant. In a summer market already spiraling beyond logic, paying top dollar for unproven potential no longer looks like ambition—it risks becoming recklessness.

By shifting attention to a player like Wissa, Newcastle may not be making headlines, but they could well be making a much smarter investment.