Low on goals, high on cash: Newcastle want French youngster to bolster their attack
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 10.01.22. | 22:39
Reims' striker Hugo Ekitike is a target for one of the Premier League's worst teams
Newcastle United have no choice but to use some of their wealthy owners' cash to buy some goals. With their main goalscorer, Callum Wilson set to miss around two months of action through injury, Eddie Howe and his staff have turned to France U20 forward Hugo Ekitike from Ligue 1 team Reims.
The young attacker is hailed as a star of the future but has already proved that he can do a job in front of the goal today. This season, he's got eight goals in 17 league games, which put him on the map as one of the best young players in the country.
Saturday, 18.00: (2.15) Newcastle (3.50) Watford (3.60)
The Magpies have been embarrassed by third-tier team Cambridge United in the FA Cup last weekend. It was that match that underlined the team's need for a natural goalscorer. Even though the black and whites created a fair number of chances, there was nobody to turn them into goals.
According to Sky Sports, representatives of the two clubs have already held talks and agreed on a transfer fee of around $40 million for the 19-year-old.
Ekitike has been compared to players like Harry Kane, Danny Ings and Richarlison due to his strong physical presence and style of play.
Eddie Howe wants to add more players to his barebones squad during the January transfer window following the arrival of Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid. Burnley's trio of James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Chris Wood has been watched by Newcastle scouts since Howe's appointment at St. James' Park, but the list could be even longer because the troubled Magpies must straighten at most positions if they're to have any chance of beating the drop getting relegated in the same season they became world's richest club.
Newcastle have approached Reims for talented striker Hugo Ekitike, born in 2002. He already scored 8 goals in Ligue1 this season - many clubs interested but Magpies are on it, as @SkySportsLyall reported. ⚪️ #NUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 10, 2022
Reims asking for €30m. No agreement yet between clubs. Not easy. pic.twitter.com/g7UjmP5L6C
Besides desperately trying to remain in the Premier League, the new owners will have to deal with an unexpected court case.
Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has launched legal action against financier Amanda Staveley, one of the key figures in the recent Saudi-led takeover of the English Premier League club. It's not yet been revealed what are the grounds for this legal action, but it's sure an unwelcome distraction for a club that's having a season straight out of a soap opera.
And the fans? They just want to see someone score a goal from time to time.
