Newcastle might sign 'Ekitike alternative' before deadline day at St James' Park

Newcastle United could make a move for a young striker like former target Hugo Ekitike before the transfer window closes, claims journalist Dean Jones.

Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that the Tyneside club have had to change their plans in the market after Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, someone else who was on their radar, picked up an injury.

As already mentioned, both Ekitike and Calvert-Lewin were on Newcastle’s list.

Multiple outlets, including BBC Sport, claimed that the Magpies were trying to sign the former before his move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

Elsewhere, The Telegraph reported that Newcastle were also pursuing Calvert-Lewin but were reluctant to pay Everton’s £60m asking price.

Since then, the 25-year-old has gone on to pick up a knee injury that saw him miss his side’s opening game of the new season against Chelsea.

From what Jones understands, with Calvert-Lewin now seemingly off the table, Newcastle could turn to a less obvious name in their pursuit of a new No.9.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider said: “It’s just what profile of striker they decide to get in. They were going to get Calvert-Lewin, but obviously he got injured, so that’s really scuppered their ideas of going for him.

“I’m told we’ve got to the stage where it might not be an obvious name that they go for. It might be like an Ekitike alternative here, who was seen as a project striker, not someone that might make an immediate impact.”

No new forward was needed for Newcastle over the weekend as they went on to beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at St James’ Park.

One of Eddie Howe’s current strikers, Callum Wilson, managed to get the job done, scoring the Magpies’ second goal of the afternoon.

He would have pleased all those