‘His priority’ – Fabrizio Romano drops shock Newcastle transfer update for £85m star

Newcastle United may be preparing to revisit a long-standing transfer saga involving Hugo Ekitike, the French striker who twice turned down a move to St. James’ Park.

According to fresh reports, the Magpies are again eyeing the Eintracht Frankfurt forward, hoping that this time they can finally secure his signature after two high-profile failures in 2022.

Their interest comes during a time when Newcastle are actively searching for a new striker to support Alexander Isak and enhance their attacking depth ahead of a demanding new season.

Back in January 2022, Ekitike, then just 19 and enjoying a breakout season with Stade de Reims, was identified as a key target by Newcastle’s recruitment team.

The club, still adjusting under new Saudi ownership, found themselves in the Premier League’s relegation zone but saw Ekitike as a long-term investment. Despite agreeing a £25 million fee with Reims on deadline day, the player rejected the move at the last minute, preferring to stay in France and continue his development.

Later that summer, Newcastle returned with another approach, and once again, it appeared they were on the verge of sealing a deal. But in a dramatic twist, Ekitike snubbed the Premier League in favor of joining Paris Saint-Germain, lured by the glamour and prestige of playing alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé.

That move, however, did not unfold as planned. Ekitike struggled to break into a star-studded PSG lineup and quickly became an afterthought, overshadowed by the very names he had hoped to emulate.

After an underwhelming stint in Paris, Ekitike found a fresh start at Eintracht Frankfurt. The move rejuvenated his career, with the Frenchman scoring 22 goals across all competitions last season, re-establishing himself as one of Europe’s most promising forwards.

His performances have since sparked renewed interest from several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea, and now, Newcastle once again.

Fabrizio Romano, a trusted voice in football transfers, recently confirmed the Magpies’ interest. He reported that Newcastle remain keen on Ekitike, although competition is expected from multiple Premier League sides.

Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Qadsiah have also inquired about his availability, but Ekitike’s priority, according to Romano, remains to continue his career in Europe.

Ekitike himself has reflected publicly on the missteps of his PSG move. Speaking to L’Équipe, he candidly admitted that joining a team dominated by global superstars made it nearly impossible to make an impact.

He described the experience as isolating, revealing that he never felt supported or trusted by the PSG hierarchy. Rather than being nurtured, he felt he had to fend for himself, even adjusting his style of play to avoid disrupting the flow of the team.

The lack of communication and confidence from the coaching staff left him feeling sidelined, and his game never reached its potential in Paris.

Despite the difficulties, Ekitike views the experience as a learning curve. He admitted he could have handled some things better, but also emphasized that PSG didn’t do enough to help him develop.

Now older, more mature, and with a successful season in Germany behind him, he seems poised for a new chapter—one that may finally bring him to the Premier League.

Newcastle’s renewed interest is not without risk. Fans still remember the frustration and drama that surrounded the earlier failed bids. Many blamed Ekitike’s agent, Karl Mwalako Buchmann, for the drawn-out negotiations and sudden reversals.

However, the landscape has changed. Ekitike has grown, and so has Newcastle. The club is no longer a struggling side trying to survive relegation; it’s now an ambitious outfit with European aspirations and a clear identity under Eddie Howe.

Should Newcastle choose to go all in again, they may find a more receptive player this time around. The allure of regular football, a structured system, and the chance to be part of a growing project could convince Ekitike that now is the right moment to wear black and white.

And for Newcastle, securing a prolific, dynamic young forward like Ekitike could be the final piece in building a squad capable of challenging at the top end of English football.