Fabrizio Romano claims are a West Ham blow as Newcastle United resurrect a move for David Moyes target Hugo Ekitike.
And it seems Newcastle are about to get one over on West Ham in the transfer market for one of the most highly-rated talents around.
Young French striker Ekitike was one of the headline names of the January transfer window and will certainly be familiar to fans of West Ham and Newcastle.
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David Moyes and Eddie Howe were reportedly battling it out to sign Stade Reims striker Ekitike a few months ago.
French outlets Le10Sport and Get French Football News – as well as Sky Sports – revealed that West Ham had submitted bids to Reims for the rapid 19-year-old who has been compared to Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe.
In the end neither West Ham or Newcastle could get a deal done for the exciting Ekitike.
West Ham and Newcastle were said to be ready to revisit a move for the striker in the summer transfer window (But! Football Club – as also reported by GFFN).
West Ham’s need for a new striker is arguably even greater than Newcastle’s given the Magpies have the likes of Callum Wilson, Chris Wood and Dwight Gayle while Moyes only has Michail Antonio.
There was a blow for West Ham recently when The Guardian and Sky Sports claimed Newcastle were closing in on beating them to the signing of striker Ekitike after Reims accepted an offer of just £25.6m plus around £4m in add-ons.
In the modern market – and given Ekitike’s age and huge potential – that is an absolute steal.
For context it is just £600,000 more than Newcastle paid for Chris Wood in January!
But the move looked doomed when Ekitike injured his hamstring playing for France Under 20s over the weekend (Football Insider).
That might have given Moyes and West Ham renewed hope a deal could be done.
But Newcastle have now dealt West Ham a blow by resurrecting a move for Moyes striker target Ekitike as Fabrizio Romano issues an update.
“New, positive contact between Hugo Ekitike’s agent and Newcastle,” Romano reports on Twitter.
“Deal back on track after agreement in place with Reims, but waiting on agent side.
“The injury wasn’t as bad as first thought. Newcastle are on it with player’s camp – this week expected to be important.”
The update is a big blow for West Ham given the relatively low fee involved.
Especially after a Hammers insider told Claret and Hugh that Moyes is unwilling to spend big to get a new forward this summer.
West Ham fans will have to hope the club has other irons in the fire with Mohamed Bayo and Armando Broja also linked.