Newcastle exploring January move for PSG striker Hugo Ekitike
- Newcastle lost out to PSG in pursuit of Ekitike in 2022 despite making a higher bid
- 21-year-old striker has played just eight minutes this season & is free to leave PSG
- Midfield & defence also areas of concern for Newcastle
Newcastle United have reignited their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike and are exploring a potential loan move for the 21-year-old, 90min understands.
The Magpies failed with a €40m (£35m) bid to sign Ekitike from Stade Reims in the summer of 2022, with PSG going on to sign the striker on loan with an obligation to make the move permanent this year for €35m (£30m).
Since then, however, Ekitike has struggled for game time. He started 12 times in Ligue 1 last year and has just eight minutes to his name this season, having been told during the summer that he is free to leave the club.
PSG attempted to use Ekitike as part of their bid to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt but the young striker declined to leave and instead made it clear he wanted to stay and fight for his future.
However, having failed to make a matchday squad since August, Ekitike is now ready to move on and 90min understands there is plenty of Premier League interest in his services.
Among the suitors are Newcastle, who have just lost striker Callum Wilson to injury and are keen to bolster their attacking options with Ekitike, a player they scouted heavily during their unsuccessful bid to sign him in 2022.
Crystal Palace, who failed to convince Ekitike to leave PSG this summer, also remain keen, while long-term admirers West Ham United are keeping a close eye on the situation.
Ekitike also has interest from both the Bundesliga and Serie A but a move to the Premier League is understood to appeal to the 21-year-old, who is well aware of long-standing interest in his services from across England.
A loan move is seen as the most likely outcome for Ekitike and Newcastle are already exploring a temporary deal for the striker as they prepare for what could be a busy January transfer window.
Having lost midfielder Sandro Tonali to a lengthy suspension for gambling breaches, bolstering at the heart of the pitch is thought to be a top priority for Newcastle, who are also keen to sign a new centre-back and have expressed an interest in both Lille's Tiago Djalo and Everton's Ben Godfrey.
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