Newcastle now 'on the lookout' for Ekitike alternative at St James' Park

Newcastle United will be on the lookout for attacking options this summer after missing out on Hugo Ekitike, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth. 

The striker made the decision to join Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan from Rennes this summer leaving Eddie Howe looking for alternatives. 

Unsurprisingly, Newcastle have been the focus of plenty of transfer speculation this summer with their takeover making them one of the wealthiest players in the market. 

Nick Pope and Sven Botman have arrived while Matt Targett has made his loan move from Aston Villa permanent as Howe continues to build his side at St. James’s Park. 

The focus now seems to be on strengthening their attacking options. Ekitike was clearly a top target in the North East with the Magpies pushing for his signature in both January and the summer, as Sheth states. 

Among those linked with moves are Armando Broja, Moussa Diaby, Lucas Paqueta and former striker Ivan Toney. 

Reports in Italy have also suggested that Newcastle will submit a fresh bit of £23 million for Leeds United winger Jack Harrison in the coming days. 

And Sheth insists that the club will be continuing to look for potential recruits in the final third before the end of the season.

Sheth told GIVEMESPORT: “We know there were after Hugo Ekitike. They thought they’d got that deal done in January. They thought they got that deal done earlier on in the summer. It didn’t work out for them. And he ended up going to PSG. I think they will be on the lookout for attacking players.”

Last season Newcastle scored 44 goals in the Premier League last season, fewer than Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Brentford. 

These are teams that many supporters will likely be expecting to