Journalist drops Newcastle transfer claim on "plans going forward", mentions 19 y/o sensation

Newcastle United and Eddie Howe are likely to target the best young talent in Europe this summer, claims transfer insider Pete O’Rourke.

The Magpies looked at several young players in the January transfer window, including Reims striker Hugo Ekitike, and O’Rourke is expecting a similar theme when the market reopens.

According to 90min, the Premier League big six all had scouts watching Ekitike last month.

This comes after Newcastle had a £33m bid to sign him accepted back in January, only for the 19-year-old to reject the Tyneside club in the end.

As per L’Equipe, Ekitike had his doubts over a move due to Newcastle’s Premier League status not being guaranteed amid their relegation battle and was keen to finish the campaign at Reims.

While Eddie Howe missed out on the young striker, he was at least able to bring in Chris Wood from Burnley to strengthen his forward line.

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O’Rourke has told GIVEMESPORT that Newcastle could target more young players like Ekitike in the next transfer window.

Speaking to GMS, the football journalist said: “I think the way Newcastle are looking right now, Eddie Howe and his plans going forward, I think they’ll be looking to try and sign some of the best young talent in Europe, which they tried to do in January with Ekitike at Reims.”

Aside from Ekitike, you can easily see Newcastle making a move for 22-year-old Sven Botman when the window reopens.

Like the Frenchman, the Lille defender was also a target for the Magpies in January and, according to Amanda Staveley, wanted to join the club.

“Some desperately wanted to come to us, like Sven, who still does very much and has talked very openly about that,” the Newcastle co-owner