Premier League outfit Newcastle United have, on Sunday, seen the club’s pursuit of Stade de Reims starlet Hugo Ekitike dealt a potentially significant blow.
The name of attacking sensation Ekitike has of course taken its place front and centre in the headlines on Tyneside for some time now.
This comes with the 20-year-old, after coming close to making the move to Tyneside during the January transfer window, having been widely tipped as being on the verge of linking up with Eddie Howe’s squad once more over the course of the last couple of weeks.
In fact, several sources went as far as to suggest that a deal was as good as done, owing to an agreement being struck between the respective transfer teams at Newcastle and Reims.
Hugo Ekitike deal. Newcastle and Reims have full agreement on €30m fee plus €5m add-ons, agent is now in talks with Newcastle after being given permission by Reims. ⭐️🇫🇷 #NUFC
Work in progress as Newcastle have been leading the race for weeks.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 4, 2022
And yet, to this point, official confirmation of as much has not arrived.
Why? The continued efforts of Ekitike’s agents to drag out negotiations, in the hope of one of European football’s heavyweights entering the fray for the Frenchman’s services.
In turn, it will no doubt come as a concern to all associated with Newcastle to hear of word surfacing on Sunday that one such giant of the game is indeed beginning to express an interest in his signature.
The outfit in question? Bayern Munich.
As per journalist Manuel Veth, Ekitike has been placed ‘high’ upon the wishlist of the Bundesliga champions with a view to next season.
This comes with the gifted young attacker viewed as a long-term replacement-of-sorts for Robert Lewandowski, expected to take his talents to Spain with Barcelona this summer.
It now remains to be seen whether Bayern, in the end, opt to move ahead with a big-money swoop for Ekitike, in the process throwing a spanner in the works of the rebuilding project at St. James’ Park.
Hugo Ekitike is high on #Bayern’s list should the club opt to sell Lewandowski to #Barca. The Stade Reims forward had a deal in place with Newcastle for weeks but was reluctant to sign at the end. The 20-year-old is considered a big talent only doubt is his fitness issues. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/ps3OKJ3sFD
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) June 26, 2022
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