Newcastle: PIF move for £40m star now 'imminent' at St James' Park

Newcastle United’s long-awaited deal for Stade Reims striker Hugo Ekitike ‘is still on’, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The 19-year-old has been at the centre of one of the most drawn-out transfer sagas of 2022 after initially turning down the Magpies’ advances in January.

A recent report by Sky Sports claimed that Newcastle had held constructive talks with Reims over a deal worth in the region of €30 million (£25.6m) for Ekitike.

The Ligue 1 outfit gave the talented teenager permission to speak to Eddie Howe’s charges over a potential move, and it seemed as though a deal was finally close to being concluded.

However, Ekitike suffered a fresh hamstring injury while on international duty earlier this month, and reliable reporter Fabrizio Romano revealed it had delayed the move even further.

Romano then stated, though, that Newcastle hope to get the deal ‘done this week’ following ‘new contact with his agent’ after it was revealed the injury isn’t as bad as first feared.

Admiring glances from Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain postponed Ekitike’s arrival in the winter before his fitness concerns hindered Newcastle’s efforts in recent weeks.

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Nevertheless, Jones has urged the Toon Army’s fanbase to ‘trust the process’ as he has been informed that Frenchman’s arrival at St. James’ Park ‘is imminent’.

He told GiveMeSport: “The Ekitike deal is still on – Newcastle fans are just going to have to trust the process here! I’m told it is imminent but who knows what that means at this point in terms of a time frame.”

Ekitike, who also reportedly has a £40m price tag, only made his senior debut for Reims in 2020/21 but established himself as one of Ligue 1’s