Newcastle United are pushing hard to secure a deal with Reims for Hugo Ekitike this summer. The teen, who turns 20 later this month, has been a long-term target for the Magpies, with a deal agreed back in January before the player snubbed a move to Tyneside.
Newcastle have wasted no time trying to resurrect a deal, challenging the likes of Borussia Dortmund and PSG for a player labelled as one of the most promising in France.
Chronicle Live understands that the deal between Newcastle and Reims is structured slightly differently to January's offer.
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Newcastle will look to pay around €30m (£25.6m), before another €5.9m (£5m) in 'achievable add-ons'. While Reims accepted the Magpies' initial offer earlier this year, they felt some clauses such as 'winning the Champions League' were unrealistic and unlikely to be triggered.
Reports across the continent have speculated Newcastle could end up paying a significant fee for Ekitike, with one French publication suggesting a deal would cost the north east club around €46m (£39.3m). However, Chronicle Live understands a figure that high is wide of the mark.
Ekitike recently admitted a January move to Newcastle didn't feel right at the time as he opted to stay in France until the end of the season. The young forward enjoyed a promising debut campaign in Ligue 1, netting 10 times in 24 league appearances.
It is no wonder the teenage sensation has been touted with moves to some of Europe's elite clubs. Dortmund were significantly interested in signing Ekitike to bolster their attacking line after the departure of Erling Haaland, even after signing Karim Adeyemi back in May.
Many Newcastle fans will never have seen the young attacker in action but those who have watched him in France have been impressed. "He is really, really good, really talented,” said French pundit Julien Laurens back in January.
“He still needs to learn a lot, this is his first season really with the first team. He was on loan in Scandinavia for the last six months of last season, this is his breakthrough season in Ligue 1, he is still really raw.
“He’s tall and skinny, he needs to beef up a bit, he needs to be stronger in the challenges and all of that, but he’s got amazing talent."