If all goes to plan, Hugo Ekitike will be Newcastle United’s first signing of the summer.
It looked like a deal was on the brink of completion last week, with reports of a fee being agreed. He will reportedly cost the Magpies £26million plus add-ons.
It then emerged that the 19-year-old had agreed to join Newcastle. It appeared to be all systems go, with just an official unveiling awaited.
However, that is not the case. The Telegraph claim that there is still work to be done before a deal is completed. They add that agent fees appear to be the issue.
This sounds worrying, but the Telegraph state that Ekitike will likely join Newcastle within the next fortnight.
But where will Newcastle turn their attentions once the French sensation signs on the dotted line?
Newcastle to target a centre-back once they sign Ekitike
There are plenty of positions that Eddie Howe wants to improve this summer. We definitely need a left-back, while the Toon boss clearly wants some more attacking options at St James’ Park.
A new centre-back is also being targeted, and the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards believes that is next on the club’s agenda.
He wrote on Twitter: “The arrival of Dan Ashworth should speed up the completion of the Ekitike deal. NUFC will then focus their attention and money on landing one of their centre-back targets with Ake and Botman at top of list.”
Howe clearly wants a left-sided centre-back, with Botman and Ake both being left-footed. But deals for either of those players will be difficult.
We’re currently in a transfer tussle with AC Milan to land the former, while the latter has a £50million asking price. That’s a lot of money, and it’s a price Newcastle should be reluctant to pay. Howe may need to look elsewhere for defensive options.
It’s interesting that CB is the next priority for Newcastle. Dan Burn and Fabian Schar played brilliantly last season, while Jamaal Lascelles is a solid reserve.
Perhaps the Magpies’ desire to move quickly is an acceptance that it’s the only way they can land Botman, who is their top target.
For now, Newcastle have a lot of moving plates and no new players through the door. While some fans might be worried, there is no reason to panic. It’s very early in the summer, and the owners proved in January that they can and will get the required business done.
Ekitike seems the most likely to join right now, and he will then be followed by a defender if all goes to plan.
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