As it turns out, Hugo Ekitike is not on his way to Tyneside for a medical. We apologize for getting the date of a tweet incorrect. We will leave the article up for posterity’s sake as it has well over 400 comments.
There is an update this morning on Newcastle’s dual pursuits of Sven Botman and Hugo Ekitike. It is not easy reading as this pivotal week grinds along. The hope was at least Hugo Ekitike would be unveiled this week as Lille have moved the goalposts in their asking price for Botman.
The Mail’s Craig Hope has tweeted the following update on both Ekitike and Botman.
NUFC moves for Sven Botman & Hugo Ekitike remain stuck this morning. Botman deal not agreed, Lille want €40m. Issue is with club, not player. Ekitike deal agreed with Reims but agent holding out amid Dortmund interest. More hope for movement on Ekitike than Botman at present.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) June 15, 2022
Hope is backing claims that Botman is keen on the move but the issue remains Lille’s asking price. Luke Edwards recently reported that the ‘Newcastle tax’ remains a serious problem.
Newcastle may have to move on to other targets if Lille continue with their stance. Newcastle cannot afford to cave to these demands as it will set a precedent that could haunt future deals.
The move for Ekitike is still in progress. However, his agents appear to be waiting for Dortmund to make a move. It’s unclear if Ekitike prefers a move to Germany but this is a troubling development nonetheless.
44 comments so far
Novocastrian66
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:15 PM
Comment #1Don’t worry about it Neil, you’re doing a great job.
niafron
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:15 PM
Comment #2Just a question: do we recruit directly in South America rather than south american players with already an european experience?
WLtoon
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:16 PM
Comment #3Anybody spotted the plane flying Ekitike over for his medical? Surely he should be here by now, all done and dusted.
Nah , thought not, the last i heard the plane was somewhere near the Bermuda Triangle.
hibbit
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:17 PM
Comment #4they’ve both had their chance it’s time move on and forget them not held to ransom.
Neil Harrison
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:19 PM
Comment #5I apologize for the situation earlier this morning. We will continue on and try to keep everything moving along.
The emergency turned out to not be serious. Thanks for everyone’s concern.
WLtoon
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:20 PM
Comment #6Glad to hear things are ok Neil, and keep up the good work.
Mund
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:21 PM
Comment #7Glad to hear everything is ok Neil 🙂
Don’t be deterred by others mate as you have thousands who support you on here and who appreciate and respect what you Ed and the Harrison’s have gave us.
Thank you
Bambams
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:22 PM
Comment #8Good to hear Neil, take care and thanks for all the efforts
DrGloom
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:23 PM
Comment #9Neil – it’s a pretty poor show others jump on you for a simple mistake , expected from the blogerati I guess, just ignore – it’ll blow over by tomorrow
niafron
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:25 PM
Comment #10Hypothésis:
PSG is looking for a CB at the moment. Luis Campos work for them now. Campos bringed Botman to Lille two years ago…
You see what i mean?
cleveleysbob
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:28 PM
Comment #11Apple TV have signed up “every MLS game” for the next 10 yrs.
Another product lost by Sky.
Watch this space when Amazon and possibly Netflix start to flex their muscles. 🙂
hibbit
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:28 PM
Comment #12that’s great Neil.
thank you,
Bills Son Is Back
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:29 PM
Comment #13We move on to the 2nd player option…
And his club hold us to ransom…
So we move on to the 3rd option…
And his club hold us to ransom…
So we move on zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
cleveleysbob
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:31 PM
Comment #14Personally, on the games I’ve watched, I prefer Amazon’s coverage of our games to Sky.
Hope they go for a bigger slice in future.
TOM
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:31 PM
Comment #15Snooze Fest ……..
Darnik
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:31 PM
Comment #16Nice one Neil glad to hear it
valle
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:32 PM
Comment #17Neil…
Greetings from Denmark.
Trolls will troll and the internet has as much bad as good, so we are bound to see it at some point. You and your dad can look yourself in the mirror and say that you have created the most active NUFC blog in the world. I have been on it since it started and I have tried other as well, so I know of what I speak.
Its not everything on this blog I agree with or find to my liking, but I accept that it is your blog and your choice how to run it, and the fact that you can have conversations here, instead of people just writing their opinion and then log of is what makes it unique from other NUFC blogs.
So keep doing what you do, and dont let the internet get to you.
valle
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:34 PM
Comment #18Mund… I heard that we got mentioned for Kounde again. How would you feel about missing out on Botman and getting a defense of Ndicka and Kounde instead?
Darnik
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:39 PM
Comment #19Valle
I’ve said for a while now if he’s favouring Milan get N’dika and the juve CB
Wor B
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:40 PM
Comment #20The man who never made a mistake never made anything.
Keep up the good work the Harrisons.
This is the place to be for Newcastle United fans worldwide.
RolandoOverhead
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:42 PM
Comment #21Newcastle tax + FFP puts a dampener on a lot of potential targets. Still holding out hope that once the Botman deal is resolved either way, we get Paqueta in. That kind of signing alongside the quality of Bruno and amazing turnaround from Big Joe will make us a far more attractive.
valle
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:44 PM
Comment #22Darnik… That would be great as well, but Kounde, that would be amazing. But do you reckon that there is any truth to it? He is expensive.
DeanToon88
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:45 PM
Comment #23They are holding out to see if bigger clubs come in for them, well I got news for ya kidda, Newcastle are about to be one of the biggest clubs on the planet.
We should not be allowing clubs and players to hold us to ransom, we offer them a fee and if they decline it move on.
If players think they are bigger than the club move on,
Find players who are willing and happy to join us, not players who want to join us for the money.
We are a club going places, weather people like it or not.
Mund
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:46 PM
Comment #24Valle
If you offered me that mate I’d snap your hands off
Darnik
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:47 PM
Comment #25Valle
We’re a couple of years away from €90m players yet imo
valle
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:49 PM
Comment #26Mund… I feel the same way mate 😀
Darnik
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:49 PM
Comment #27Dean
Exactly mate fook em they’ll regret it long term
valle
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:50 PM
Comment #28Darnik… You are probably right, I would get as amazed that it could actually happen as I would get happy if it did end up happening… Almost
Dave
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:51 PM
Comment #29This and the next few windows were always going to a hard slog.
We do not have the international profile to appeal to players when clubs such as AC Milan are in the mix.
So to overcome that we will either have to pay a premium and risk having a player who’s mind is elsewhere or step down a level for now and take the longer route of developing our own.
It will be interesting
dazzler
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:52 PM
Comment #30That other blog is shite anyway, Neil. Glad everything is OK.
DjMickyg
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:53 PM
Comment #31Unfortunately i think we are suffering now as Eddie has no reputation outside of England hence players are hesitant to sign for us. Also i am getting the feeling he thinks we have enough in midfield which is a huge mistake. Willock,longstaff,shelvey are very average and big joe while he had a great season we need an upgrade.
dazzler
Jun 15, 2022 at 12:59 PM
Comment #32DjMickyg,
I disagree entirely. I has nothing to do with the manager and his profile – which will have skyrocketed after he made history keeping us up comfortably.
It has everything to do with Lille upping their asking price at the 11th hour as they often do, and Ekitike having the possibility to join the greatest youth project in football.
Botman would be here now if it weren’t for Lille, and I can’t blame Ekitike for waiting to see if Dortmund are coming in for him.
FUBARsteve
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:00 PM
Comment #33Neil & Ed
Ignore the idiots.
You both do a great job with this blog. I don’t comment much on here, and I have followed the blog for what must be over 10 years now, but in this case I just wanted to echo what a lot of our fellow NUFC fans have already said, and reiterate how much we appreciate the work you do to keep us all informed and up to date.
dazzler
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:00 PM
Comment #34Ramage is now working for Shola and we’re looking for a new U18 manager.
I read this as Ramage is a rubbish coach and Shola is so rubbish at managing loans he needs an assistant.
WLtoon
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:03 PM
Comment #35Overheard a couple of plastic Pool fans talking about Botman at work last night, rumours circulating that they are considering a move for him.
Don`t know what they have been reading, maybe the Liverpool website but he wants CL football.
Give this lad a swerve once and for all, Lille might be playing silly buggers but Botman, for me, just doesn`t seem right for our club now, holding out for Milan to up their offer seems to be the general opinion with him.
There have been plenty other CB`s mentioned on this site alone that could do just as good a job as Botman, two of which i think could be even better than him.
I trust the recruitment team, and im hoping unknown targets are getting primed for the big reveal as nothing is coming from the club, which is good news.
As everyone else knows, the Journo`s, Twatterati bullshitters and whoever else know SFA.
the crown princes nashers
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:04 PM
Comment #36ahh the media says this and says that, if there was no toilet roll I wouldnt wipe my arse with the crap they put in it 😉
Mister Tuff
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:08 PM
Comment #37Ed/Neil/The Wife.
Without a doubt this is the best Toon blog. The format is very good. I’ve looked at other blogs and their is no comparison.
Like anything online there are allways idiots who have access to the world via their electronic devices. Prior to this era these types would have been “chased off”. But now it seems even the idiots demand their “rights” to speak. And we’ve just got to accept it -unfortunately.
Like others have said this is the best Toon blog – keep going for Gods sake.
Can you do a poll as to how many support Gareth Southgate.
Like I say -best Toon blog.
WLtoon
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:08 PM
Comment #38Exactly TCPN
Mister Tuff
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:12 PM
Comment #39their =there
A Geordie Mongrel
Jun 15, 2022 at 1:18 PM
Comment #40Dr Ed, Neil and The Wife. I’d like to add my appreciation for all of the work you do on this blog. I’m glad all is okay. I’m sure the idiots in the Twitterverse will soon move on to their next victim. I’m so glad I don’t do Twitter.
Onwards and upwards! 🙂