Newcastle: £30m star 'antsy and anxious' over move to St James' Park

Newcastle United target Hugo Ekitike is becoming ‘antsy and anxious’ as a result of a delay to his switch from Reims to St James’ Park, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Head coach Eddie Howe has succeeded in tying Matt Targett down to a permanent deal after spending the second half of last season on loan with the Magpies, but it now seems he has turned his attentions towards bolstering his attacking options.

Newcastle are reportedly looking to unlock the impasse after seeing a deal to sign Ekitike held up in recent weeks.

The 20-year-old has been a long-term target for Howe, who was appointed as the Magpies’ chief last November.

According to the Chronicle, new sporting director Dan Ashworth has been locked in talks with Ekitike’s representative Karl Mwalako Buchmann in the last few days and a medical has been arranged in the event the the go-ahead is given.

The report suggests the six-cap France under-20 international is prepared to cut his holiday short in order to force through a move to Newcastle, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano alleging the switch could be worth up to £30million.

However, according to French media outlet L’Equipe, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are mulling over whether to make a late bid to beat the Tynesiders to the striker’s services.

Jones believes Ekitike is becoming fearful that his move to Newcastle will fail to come to fruition due to the switch being held up.

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The transfer insider feels the Reims ace could be embroiled in a saga which lasts until the summer window slams shut on September 1.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “He’s probably becoming quite antsy and anxious for it to actually go through