Newcastle Push for Hugo Ekitike in Record-Breaking Deal Talks with Frankfurt

Newcastle United have reignited their pursuit of French striker Hugo Ekitike and are now making serious moves to finally bring him to Tyneside. The club is currently in discussions with Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal that could reach €75 million — a fee that would smash the Magpies’ current transfer record.

Newcastle officials travelled to Germany last week and held face-to-face meetings with Frankfurt to advance talks for the 23-year-old forward. Further discussions have also taken place in Austria, where Newcastle are based for pre-season training, this time involving Ekitike’s representatives. Although there’s no agreement in place just yet, negotiations are said to be progressing steadily. 

Ekitike is no stranger to Newcastle fans. Back in January 2022, a £20 million-plus deal was nearly sealed with Reims, only for the move to collapse on deadline day after the striker hesitated to make a last-minute switch to the Premier League. Since then, the club have kept a close eye on his development, and their patience may now be paying off. 

After a brief and underwhelming spell at Paris Saint-Germain, Ekitike found his feet again at Eintracht Frankfurt. Initially joining on loan, he made the move permanent in the summer of 2024 for €17.5 million. What followed was a breakout season — 22 goals and 12 assists in all competitions — and it’s no surprise that clubs across Europe have taken notice. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool have all explored potential deals for the French U21 international this summer, but Newcastle appear to be the ones pushing hardest at the moment. If a transfer is finalized, it would top the €71.2 million the Magpies spent on Alexander Isak in 2022. 

Frankfurt, meanwhile, are no strangers to big-money sales. In the past two seasons, they’ve offloaded Randal Kolo Muani to PSG for €95 million and Omar Marmoush to Manchester City for around €70–75 million. Ekitike could now follow in their footsteps, with his current contract running until 2029. 

Newcastle have already made one splash this summer, signing winger Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for £55 million. Adding Ekitike to the mix would be another significant step in their rebuild under Eddie Howe, particularly after a 2023–24 season where injuries and inconsistencies hurt their push for silverware and a top-four finish.