Newcastle continue to make progress on the first senior signing of the summer. According to Mark Douglas with i news, Reims striker Hugo Ekitike is edging closer to becoming a Magpie.
Interestingly, Douglas is backing recent claims by The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards that the initial fee is not as high as has been touted. Douglas is reporting that Newcastle will pay just £15m up front for the 19-year-old.
This is similar to what Edwards asserted on Twitter yesterday.
On Ekitike, someone trying to claim #nufc have agreed to pay far more for player than they have done. Newcastle had not agreed to pay £25m up front in Jan. it was more like £12m with add ons to take it to around £30m. Negotiations continue. Guaranteed to be “an undisclosed fee.”
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) June 2, 2022
Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot recently stated that Ekitike would cost around £30m in total. However, he also mentioned that deal would be structured with easily attainable add-ons.
If Newcastle can get Ekitike in for a smaller initial fee, that will help with their other summer recruitment. Douglas, as has been widely reported, believes both Sven Botman and Moussa Diaby are two other priority targets.
Douglas does not expect a lot of additions. He has Newcastle’s signings capped at four with anymore significantly depending on how many of the fringe players can be offloaded. New sporting director Dan Ashworth has been tasked with trimming the squad.
The fourth target on the priority list is Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Toffees have dug their heels in on the 25-year-old striker. It would take a colossal offer to tempt them into selling.
Calvert-Lewin’s representatives are open to offers as interest is high in their client. Arsenal have also identified the England international as a target. The Gunners confirmed on Friday that Alexandre Lacazette will when his contract expires at the end of the month.
277 comments so far
phy
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:36 PM
Comment #1Still don’t get the fuss over DCL
Mund
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:36 PM
Comment #2Do you just believe in your own self importance or what?
Castore our official kit designers released a post saying NUFC home kit reveal on June 1st which then got quickly took down.
That came from our own kit makers.
No conspiracy
Simple legal issues
Mund
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:37 PM
Comment #3phy
Me either mate
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:39 PM
Comment #4Mund,
I understand perfectly well what happened. I’ve weighed up the likelihood of both situations and come to my own conclusion.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:40 PM
Comment #5niafron,
A few of the big hitting ITK accounts seem to think Etikite is close mind.
Mund
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:40 PM
Comment #6Aye I know another daft conspiracy theory that will be nowhere near the truth
niafron
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:42 PM
Comment #7repost
@Mund
Never say never… but it’s complicated… the lad don’t seem very happy with the idea, and what is worse, due to the clumsiness of Reims president, everybody know it now…
I mean, in such case, if it look like you’re hesitating, there’s no trust, and it’s over…
Or, you could put it that way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hnhvWKMqm4
Ekitike already upset some NUFC fans and he know it…
check the toastie
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:43 PM
Comment #8Feel like a gooseberry coming on here with you two lovebirds. So sweet your relationship.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:44 PM
Comment #9On ESPN now, Lacazette to Lyon.
Mund
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:45 PM
Comment #10niafron
I guess if the kid isn’t ready he isn’t ready. It’s a big move for him and he didn’t fancy it back in January when we were in a predicament so if he does it again it will speak volumes on his mentality.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:45 PM
Comment #11niafron,
I don’t think he’s upset any beyond forgiveness.
Mund
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:46 PM
Comment #12Like a third wheel check…? 😉
ToonDarnSarf
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:48 PM
Comment #13Wouldn’t be the first time someone in the marketing department for a big company has announced something by mistake or early. And wouldn’t be the first time someone in the marketing department for a big company announced something and pretended it was a mistake…
niafron
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:49 PM
Comment #14@Raj of Hailsley
No sure… but bad start.
Mund
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:50 PM
Comment #15😆 a weaker man would get jealous of the cuteness of you both…
It’s funny tho
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:55 PM
Comment #16niafron,
Still plenty of time, the window isn’t even open yet. Is Lacazette going to Lyon old news, was that the obvious move.
ToonDarnSarf
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:55 PM
Comment #17Asking seriously, what is the evidence of these legal issues? Why would any of the parties involved make it public that there are legal issues? There will be NDAs in place and I can’t see it benefiting all parties for this being public knowledge so why would any of them want it to be known, knowing that it would just make the negotiations more complicated?
If Fun88 have a contract, either it’s for a clause for it to be bought out or it hasn’t. If it hasn’t, then it’s a negotiation and the club will have to stick to the terms of the contract or they can’t reach a mutual agreement to terminate it early.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:56 PM
Comment #18Pre takeover/EH we did look nailed on for relegation so no shame to anyone predicting it.
I did think that we had the players to survive and that there were 3 worse teams than us but it was an every thing crossed state of mind! 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 3, 2022 at 7:59 PM
Comment #19The news that Merhad (I know that’s wrong) is speaking to names on no ones radar makes me more convinced that we’ll all be surprised with most of the new signings.
Just like January!
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:00 PM
Comment #20Peter how are England doing in the test! 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:02 PM
Comment #21EGB,
Aye, I’ve stated plenty of times I’m not ashamed I predicted it and would do again, not sure why it keeps getting thrown at me, tens of thousands thought we were down, coming out of the ground against Norwich that night, not many were saying I think we’ll be alright.
jane
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:02 PM
Comment #22there are some football matches this evening.
jane
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:03 PM
Comment #23Croatia v Austria
France v Denmark
Belgium v Holland
Belarus v Slovakia
Kiechtenstein v Moldova
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:03 PM
Comment #24EGB,
Because of the time difference I completely forgot we batted, didn’t realise there’d been a spectacular collapse.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:04 PM
Comment #25ESG, I would prefer not to say as we are being hammered
jane
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:05 PM
Comment #26Alexander Zverev shouted louder than Sean Longstaff.
https://youtu.be/9oVZNKJEnGo
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:05 PM
Comment #27Jane, will Kiechtenstein batter Moldova or just saute them?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:05 PM
Comment #28Jail
Without giving to much away, it got worse!
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:06 PM
Comment #29It will be a monster meal either way
Tyran21
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:06 PM
Comment #30niafron
It’s more likely Newcastle move on to other target than fans get upset with a target that don’t want to come. Not sure who is telling the true news though, if any actually knows……I thought £25mil upfront + bonus was really too much for me to believe Newcastle would pay that much for a 20yrs old one season wonder. Now £15mil + add on up to £30mil seems more reasonable….
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:06 PM
Comment #31I’ve got absolute zero interest in that Nations League.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:07 PM
Comment #32Spectacular collapse does not do it justice
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:07 PM
Comment #33EGB,
Aye, just looked 😕
jane
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:08 PM
Comment #34in the cricket would England do better if they played like they do in 20 over cricket in test matches? i’m sure they would score more runs if they just tried to smash every ball.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:10 PM
Comment #35Just finished watching the U17 game v Czech’s which we won but they have a top notch striker who is worth a look at by Wor Eddie can’t remember his name though. Scored a fantastic goal for them.
Tyran21
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:11 PM
Comment #36niafron
Arnaud Kalimuendo seems more establish than Ekitike?
Tinos Vino
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:12 PM
Comment #37re Castore. funny things happen. i worked for a business that was being sold to a US business and the UK side got the timezones wrong and released the news 7 hours early before the US company could officially tell the markets in their quarterly update. was up for 20 mins before it got took down…. something is going on but i dont think it is a big conspiracy or anything only time will tell
Mund
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:12 PM
Comment #38The reason it got brought up was because you were laughing at IrishRob for panicking and you can’t get anymore worse than we are down if we don’t beat Brentford with more than half a season to still come
jane
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:14 PM
Comment #39“will Kiechtenstein batter Moldova or just saute them”
have you been to these countries yet?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 3, 2022 at 8:15 PM
Comment #40Jane, ref cricket blast. Field restrictions completely different and bowlers can bowl as many as they can!