Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot admits the French club have been taken by surprise by the meteoric rise of Newcastle United target Hugo Ekitike.
The 19-year-old, who could be joining the Magpies this summer, is one of Europe's hottest properties right now. Borussia Dortmund and PSG are just two of the names linked with a move for the youngster.
But talk of a move to the Premier League or one of Europe's elite this time last year would have been unthinkable as Ekitike returned from a relatively successful loan spell with Danish club Vejle BK.
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“It’s been years since [Reims Sporting Director] Mathieu Lacour told me that we had a nugget in store. Where I was surprised, like all supporters, was how quickly he emerged," Caillot said this week.
"So it’s true, he was helped by the context because in fact he was fourth striker in the hierarchy and then the injury game also meant that he was able to show all his qualities.
“It also makes me smile today, because it sometimes seems that it would be the end of the Stade de Reims if he [Ekitike] were to leave us when a year ago, 90 per cent of the people [supporters] did not know him.”
Chronicle Live understands the fee will be around £25-£30m depending on add-ons, with Reims happy with the clauses included in the deal. But Caillot admits he had to be careful publicly declaring how much Ekitike is worth to the French club.
"You have to be very careful what you say because in other interviews I said it was between 20 and 40 million euros and it was said that the real price I had announced, it was 20 million euros," he said. "Let things be clear at 20 million, Hugo Ekitike will not leave."
Ekitike is currently away with the French under-20 side and could play a part in the clash with Argentina on Saturday.
