Newcastle 'close' to sealing £36m transfer for striker who outscored Lionel Messi

Newcastle United are reportedly close to completing the signing of striker Hugo Ekitike from French side Stade de Reims.

The 19-year-old flourished in Ligue 1 last season and scored 10 goals in 24 appearances and 15 starts in France’s top-flight, as well as adding three assists and averaging a goal every 127.5 minutes.

The Daily Mail are reporting that Ekitike is closing in on a move to St James’ Park for a fee of £36million and that he will become Eddie Howe’s first signing of the summer transfer window. That figure is reportedly said to include any add-ons in the deal for one of Europe’s most talked about young prospects.

The report claims that German giants Borussia Dortmund held an interest in signing Ekitike following Erling Haaland ’s £51.2m move to Manchester City. However, Ekitike is set to join the Magpies and sign a five-year deal.

Newcastle had come close to signing Ekitike back in January, however the teenage forward turned down the chance to leave Reims for the Magpies, having felt it was not the right time to depart France.

Ekitike’s form in Ligue 1 saw him score more league goals than Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi, who notched just six Ligue 1 goals despite playing almost 900 more league minutes that Ekitike in the 2021/22 campaign.

The French striker has played twice for his country at under-20s level and is currently with their squad on international duty, although he was an unused substitute during their win over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Newcastle had been heavily linked with signing striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Everton this summer. However, it has been claimed that Ekitike was always at the top of the club’s shopping list as they look to bolster their forward line.

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