Newcastle United have had a club-record ÂŖ70 million bid for Hugo Ekitike rejected by Eintracht Frankfurt, with the Bundesliga side holding out for closer to ÂŖ85 million as rival interest intensifies.
Sky Sports News confirmed on Tuesday that Frankfurt turned down the formal offer earlier that morning, with German sources suggesting other clubs are willing to offer more for the 23-year-old, who scored 22 goals across all competitions last season.
Ekitike has long been on Newcastleâs radar. The Magpies tried to sign him from Reims in 2022 but were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain. He struggled to break through in France before moving to Frankfurt for just ÂŖ14 million two summers ago, where heâs since rebuilt his reputation with a prolific campaign that helped secure Champions League football.
Newcastleâs interest has now been revived, and according to Sky Sportsâ Keith Downie, their bid reflects both ambition and pressure.
âIf anything it shows Newcastleâs ambitions this window,â Downie told Sky Sports News.
âThey are very keen on Ekitike. They tried to sign him three years ago from Rennes in France but instead he went to PSG. That didnât work out, he signed for Frankfurt and had a terrific season last year, scoring 22 goals.
âTalks as we understand are still ongoing. The deal at this time looks unlikely as Newcastle only have so much to spend. The budget is tight having signed Elanga too. I feel like ÂŖ70-75m is about as high as Newcastle will go. Time will tell but there is a gap in the valuation.â
MORE NEWCASTLE UNITED COVERAGE ON F365âĻ
đ Newcastle âzero inâ on ÂŖ86m striker in what could be the best blow ever for Liverpool
đ Twenty biggest transfers in the world in 2025 summer transfer window
đ Arsenal fourth, Spurs third in Premier League net spend table over the last five years
The striker chase comes at a time when Newcastleâs current number nine is also attracting attention. Liverpool have made an approach for Alexander Isak, with suggestions they could lodge a club-record bid of their own.
While Newcastle insist the Swedish forward is not for sale, sources close to the club have acknowledged that a truly âexceptionalâ offer could force a rethink.
Whether the Ekitike pursuit is linked to Isakâs uncertain situation remains to be seen, but the timing of both stories has not gone unnoticed. Liverpool are in the market for a new centre-forward and Ekitike is on their shortlist, too.
Fabrizio Romano claims the Reds are exploring both options, with Chelsea and Manchester United also having made contact over Ekitike in recent weeks.
Newcastleâs only major signing this summer has been Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest in a ÂŖ55million deal, meaning a second big-money addition would take them close to the limits of their current budget.
