One of the most frustrating aspects of this window is breaking news from reports that directly contradict each other. Newcastle’s pursuits of both Hugo Ekitike and Sven Botman have been rife with pendulum swings.
Again this morning there are disparate claims regarding Hugo Ekitike. Lee Ryder reported that talks have progressed between NUFC sporting director Dan Ashworth and Ekitike’s agent over the past few days.
He added that staff was on standby for the player’s arrival should a breakthrough be reached. The hold-up is down to agents’ fees. By Ryder’s account, the 20-year-old is pushing to get the deal sorted.
The latest from The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards paints a far different and darker picture. Edwards is reporting the lines of communication have gone silent with no contact in the past week.
There are fears inside St. James’ Park that the Frenchman doesn’t want the move as calls have not been returned. Newcastle have, however, reached a full agreement with Reims for an initial payment of £12m rising to £26m.
The update on Botman is only slightly less worrying. Lille have refused to come down from their increased demands. A few weeks ago, Edwards revealed Lille raised the asking price to £37m after weeks of negotiating a £30m fee.
Botman, who is also on holiday, is keen on the move. AC Milan have not even matched Newcastle’s offer of £30m so appear to be out of the running at this stage. Botman is currently waiting on a bid to be accepted.
There are claims from France that Lille’s owners have grown frustrated with the lack of player sales. This has put president Olivier Letang’s job in jeopardy. Whether this impacts the club’s stance on Botman’s valuation remains to be seen.
Newcastle have now moved on to other options at both striker and center-back according to Edwards. They simply cannot expend any more energy on these two targets with preseason just around the corner.
Time will tell what happens moving forward. As Mehrdad Ghodoussi tweeted to a frustrated fan last week, ‘Patience is a virtue’.
172 comments so far
Hong Kong Magpie
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:48 PM
Comment #1Two in a row
Romford mag
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:51 PM
Comment #2Sad and pathetic !
Welcome to the club HKM 😉
clinath@ed
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:52 PM
Comment #3Ruddy.
I think the modern goalkeeper has to act more of a sweeper, and the ball control/passing range is more linked to that.
Re. Man City
hibbit
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:53 PM
Comment #4Wor B don’t be rushing into any rash decisions just yet !!
sorry to hear about your wife i hope she gets well soon,
ITUNDERASHELL
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:55 PM
Comment #5Luke Edwards is a P.O.S. so don’t pay any attention as he spews clickbait!
ITUNDERASHELL
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:57 PM
Comment #6Very pleased Nick Pope is joining us and another piece in our owners masterplan. Pope will be busting a gut to play in Qatar ahead of butter fingers Pickford.
Tyran21
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:57 PM
Comment #7repost
Also Pope is great at dealing with crosses. I think Pope is a good buy. Pope don’t have much choice but put in 300% hardwork and concentration to wrestle no.1 spot from Dubravka and a shot at WC slot. Don’t think other clubs is in for Pope?
wartongeordie
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:58 PM
Comment #8Just heard from my colleague that Nick Pope (his cousin) is now definitely in talks with Newcastle.
Tyran21
Jun 21, 2022 at 12:58 PM
Comment #9https://www.stats24.com/football/features-top-10-sweeper-keepers-across-europes-big-five-leagues-141
outside the box
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:02 PM
Comment #10im not sure …think i read somewhere but i think pope has same agent as another toon player and as such may know any wage/release clause hence low transfer amount…
ITUNDERASHELL
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:05 PM
Comment #11Nick Pope
No. of sweeping actions outside penalty area – 1.61
In what may come as a surprise to many, Nick Pope has consistently had some of the best sweeper-keeper numbers in the top five leagues for a few seasons now. Pope’s aggressive stance and dominance in claiming crosses and protecting corners is a key reason behind him doing well on this metric.
ITUNDERASHELL
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:09 PM
Comment #12Nick Pope 221 Insane saves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urJlVWzj-y4
DrGloom
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:10 PM
Comment #13Not good, if true we should walk away – this is becoming a farce
However , it is Luke Edwards so take with a pinch of salt
magicmac54
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:10 PM
Comment #14Repost
If this news is true about us signing Nick Pope i would be simply delighted as he is a top class Keeper and better than Dubs in my opinion, i was very disappointed when we missed out on Gavin Bazuna, but i had confidence the owners would still get another quality keeper, and make no mistake Nick Pope is a quality keeper with tons of premier league experience HWTL
2
Tyran21
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:12 PM
Comment #15Pope is better than Dubravka in every department, just slightly behind him on passing.
ITUNDERASHELL
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:16 PM
Comment #16magicmac54
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:10 PM
Comment #14
Right Magicmac, he is also highly ranked as a sweeper, perfect fit as we rise up the league.
Harley
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:16 PM
Comment #17So many conflicting story’s about Ekitike and Botman. Hard to decide what to believe.
2 things I think though. 1- not one of these reporters has any clue what is happening. Everything they post is speculation. 2 – it is a bit concerning that these two sagas are dragging on. Usually no smoke without fire.
cleveleysbob
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:18 PM
Comment #18Pope would be No1. Pretty good buy at the price quoted a snip!.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:20 PM
Comment #19Is there a quota of English players a team has to have in their squad in the Prem?
cleveleysbob
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:21 PM
Comment #20Both players involved in Internationals.
Both players now on “delayed” holiday.
Press know nowt, hate a vacuum, so spout utter crap to maintain “click” numbers.
Unfortunately we’re all mugs and “click” away, keeping them in jobs, hope they appreciate our sacrifice!! 🙂
Darnik
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:22 PM
Comment #21I’d be more than happy with pope good keeper who’s dominant in his area, exactly what we need add to that he’s a few years younger than Dubs and will do us fine for this stage of our rebuild
check the toastie
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:24 PM
Comment #22Agree Pope is more trustworthy than Dubs. Made some serious gaffs over the years Dubs, still canny enuf tho.
The Mighty Quinn
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:26 PM
Comment #23No wonder people’s blood pressure is up, we’re all taking too much salt with all these links.
cleveleysbob
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:26 PM
Comment #24What we are getting daily is :
A report from the Mirror Group (aka Reach) includes Chronic.
A report from Telegraph, giving exact opposite view to their rivals (above).
Neither actually know anything, they’re just playing games for clicks.
We click away, and then play he’ll about “the saga” – real news – there is no saga!!!
Just a set of circumstances that have delayed the inevitable. 😉
barkel
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:29 PM
Comment #25Pope & Wood for £35mil is good business
niafron
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:30 PM
Comment #26John Textor entered exclusive negociation with OL to become the new majority shareolder.
It was officialy announced.
So things could move now on that front.
Munster Mag
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:30 PM
Comment #27Id believe the Pope stuff. After all he’s infallible 🙂
Get in!!!
Be an excellent piece of work by Ashworth if we get him
HTL
Mund
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:31 PM
Comment #28Pete Graves
@PeteGravesTV
Nick Pope to #nufc – negotiations now well underway. We told you last week he was a serious target for Eddie Howe! Botman/Ekitike still hopeful but prepared to move onto other targets if progress isn’t made in coming days.
@SkySportsNews
#TransferTalk w/
@SkySports_Keith
check the toastie
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:32 PM
Comment #29Footballing Goalies are worth a fortune if they are also decent at dominating there area and shot stopping. Man City and Liverpool can afford there keeper to piss about as they generally score three goals a game. We cant. Likes of Pickford and Ramsdale need to do the basics first. Cost more goals than save by being clever with the ball at their feet.
Mund
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:33 PM
Comment #30It’s all BS about Ekitike and Botman
The media haven’t got a clue what they are talkings about and conflict each other’s reports.
Once they return from holiday they will sign.
Ekitike even willing to cut his holiday short to get it done.
“Patience is a virtue”
check the toastie
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:33 PM
Comment #31Pope will do just fine. Like a leaser mans Petr Cech. Big lad, catches crosses and saves shots. Ball at his feet, boot it to Wilson, Maxi or Diaby (when he inevitably signs)
RToon
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:36 PM
Comment #32Why are we being linked with/going for so many players that want champions league football?
We are no where near that yet.
Diaby/Raum etc are never going to sign for us.
Need to be looking at good players from lesser leagues.
Cornet and Pope at Burnley would be good buys.
Loads of great players in the Primeira Liga.
Munster Mag
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:36 PM
Comment #33Mund thanks for the update on Tom.
You dont get much thanks at time, even for a Boro gadgie 🙂
Tom, rock on big man !
Munster Mag
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:36 PM
Comment #34*times
Munster Mag
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:39 PM
Comment #35I’d happily believe Graves – move on from the other 2 unless there is genuine reasons to hang on for them. Why should holidays be a big issue? Once the agent and Dan and the selling club are all available, the hols of a player shouldnt matter, as the medical is the last issue. Similarly, Eddies hols are irrelevant.
Assassins Inc
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:45 PM
Comment #36Everyday I wake up 8/9 hours behind hoping to see something new.
And everyday I hear this.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5cUwVLx8K9s
British will know it, it so much everyone else.
Assassins Inc
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:46 PM
Comment #37Not so much, spell checker strikes again.
Mund
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:48 PM
Comment #38Pete Graves
@PeteGravesTV
·
3m
Have to say my “gut feeling” is that #nufc will still land Botman and Ekitike.
Toon Sufferer
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:49 PM
Comment #39I’d love to get Cornet as well. If he can repeat last seasons 9/10 goals I would happily whack Maxi on the right and tell him ‘once you score the Goals Cornet is getting you can get back on the left!’ but he probably won’t be bothered if he’s matching Cornets goals tally like!
magicmac54
Jun 21, 2022 at 1:52 PM
Comment #40ITUNDERASHEL
Afternoon mate, i was going to post a link with Nick Popes best saves but alas you beat me to it mate D i`ll be over the moon if we sign Nick Pope, not only is he a magnificent shot stopper, but he is also commanding in the penalty area and at coming out to claim the ball at corner kicks, and another great professional with impeccable character. These owners are signing not just good quality players, but also good characters with good attitudes, this wont be lost on the fans mate. Great time to be an Newcastle fan HWTL