There was potential for an interesting clash in the Champions League group stage with Newcastle United meeting Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage after the two went toe-to-toe over striker Hugo Ekitike.
The two sides battled it out for the signature of highly-rated Reims striker Hugo Ekitike last summer and the youngster looked all but set to join Newcastle before joining PSG at the last minute.
The Ligue 1 champions signed Ekitike on loan with an obligation to buy and appear to have regretted it ever since.
Ekitike won’t face Newcastle in the Champions League for PSG
The temperamental striker has struggled to fit in at PSG and has hardly played for the French side with several Premier League sides looking to take him on loan this summer.
No move could be agreed and Ekitike remains PSG’s problem, however he won’t be an issue during the Champions League as he along with Marco Veratti have been left out of the ‘List A’ squad according to RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins.
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Newcastle fans will be disappointed as I’m sure they had plenty of chants lined up to greet the youngster if he’d made it on the pitch during the two meetings.
Ekitke may still end up in the Premier League in January
The way Ekitike toyed with Newcastle while waiting for his “dream move” to PSG didn’t sit well with the Toon Army.
Fans are taking perhaps too much pleasure in how Ektike’s career is unravelling following his antics and would loved to have made their feelings known.
With several Premier League sides chasing him in the latter days of the window there’s still a chance Ekitike could end up playing on these shores after the January window giving the Geordies the opportunity they’ve been waiting for.