The Hugo Ekitike to Newcastle United saga dominated the 2022 summer transfer window, but it looks like there will not be a repeat in 2023.
Ekitike appeared certain to be joining Eddie Howe’s side last year. He turned down a move in January, but Newcastle were not put off and made a fresh move in the summer.
Everything seemed set for the Frenchman to become a Toon player. The fee was agreed with Reims, but personal terms proved to be an issue.
In the end, the Magpies walked away, and Ekitike signed for PSG instead. However, his move to the Ligue 1 champions has proven to be a disaster, leading to talk of a move away at the end of the season.
Inevitably, Newcastle have been linked with a fresh move for the 20-year-old. However, a new report claims that is not going to be the case.
Newcastle are not going to bid for Hugo Ekitike again
According to the Telegraph, Ekitike wants a move away from PSG this summer. However, it does not look like it will be to Newcastle.
The report adds that the Magpies have no intention of making a renewed move for the young forward after his rejections in 2022. They add that Newcastle officials were not impressed with the way he acted during last summer’s negotiations.
It is a wise decision by the Toon recruitment team, who have been snubbed by Ekitike on multiple occasions. While the club have shown a willingness to revisit former targets, this is a different case to the Sven Botman pursuit or our ongoing interest in James Maddison.
Ekitike has said ‘no’ more than once, and proved last year that he is not the kind of character that Eddie Howe is looking for.
A fresh move this summer would have been unwise. While he is ‘not happy‘ at Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle are not going to bail him out.
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