What Newcastle United have just agreed to pay for West Ham target Hugo Ekitike will sicken Hammers boss David Moyes.
Young French striker Hugo Ekitike was one of the headline names of the January transfer window and will certainly be familiar to fans of West Ham and Newcastle.
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, which opens next week (But! Football Club – as also reported by GFFN).
Their chances looked bleak when Get French Football News – quoting ’90 Football’ – reported last month that Bayern Munich were new frontrunners to land Ekitike.
West Ham desperately need at least one new striker this summer.
And according to Hammers insiders speaking to Claret and Hugh, Moyes is unwilling to spend big to get a new forward in with value for money key.
So what Newcastle have just agreed to pay for West Ham target Ekitike will absolutely sicken Moyes.
According to The Guardian and Sky Sports Newcastle are closing in on 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!
Moyes will surely be kicking himself if the Scot was genuinely interested in the French starlet as is claimed.
West Ham could have got one of the brightest talents in France for just over £25m.
Instead Newcastle, who will undoubtedly be one of their big rivals for the European places next season, have improved their starting XI immensely without having to break the bank.
West Ham fans can only hope Moyes has other irons in the fire.