Cast your minds back to last summer.
Newcastle United went large periods without being able to get one of the many deals they were being linked with over the line, leading to an air of frustration.
While things clearly worked out with Alexander Isak, there was another name frequently touted as a target.
Hugo Ekitike, then of Reims, was a major name.
The club were thought to have agreed a fee for the young forward, only for him to delay and end up joining Paris Saint-Germain on a loan deal with an option to buy after agents drove up the interest.
Life in the French capital, however, has not worked out as planned.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the level of talent on offer at PSG, Ekitike has struggled for game time.
Indeed, the 20-year-old has made only ten starts across all competitions this season and the situation might be coming to a head.
Hugo Ekitike unhappy at Paris Saint-Germain
According to PSG boss Christophe Galtier, the young forward is unhappy at the Parc des Princes.
With Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe competing for places up front, regular game time has been hard to come by.
While the player is still said to be working hard in training, Galtier confirmed the latest when speaking to reporters.
“There is no problem. Hugo works seriously, he even works more,” he said to L’Equipe.
“There is also the architecture of the team. He is facing very strong competition with Kylian [Mbappe] and Leo [Messi] who are very successful.
“We will see what will happen in the next matches. There is no problem between Hugo and me. He’s not happy, but he’s working.”
Now could be a good time to sign Ekitike
Clearly, Newcastle rate the player otherwise they wouldn’t have chased him last summer.
Hailed as a “special” talent by the respected scribes in L’Equipe, there is no shame in failing to make the grade at a circus like PSG. Christopher Nkunku, Moussa Diaby and Kingsley Coman all had to go elsewhere to cut their teeth and that has hardly held them back.
In some ways, it’s understandable Ekitike chose PSG last summer. At 19, the idea of the biggest club in your home country coming in for you must be exciting and Newcastle were yet to embark on the Champions League challenge they are on now.
Seemingly disillusioned with life in Paris, now could be a good time to move for a player the club clearly value highly.
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