David Ornstein issues €75m update on Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak

After making Anthony Elanga their first marquee signing of the window, Eddie Howe and the recruitment team are showing no signs of stopping, with the highly-rated Frankfurt star next in terms of top targets.

News broke from Fabrizio Romano on Monday evening that Newcastle have sent a bid to the German side estimated to be more than €70m.

But whilst we may not agree with Frankfurt just yet, it is sounding positive as top journalist David Ornstein has now reported on the fast-moving story.

Writing in The Athletic, David Ornstein has confirmed that Newcastle are making a big push to sign Hugo Ekitike; not as an Alexander Isak replacement, but a marquee signing to play alongside the Swede.

He reports that Newcastle are working on a deal worth €75m, but does warn that an agreement with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt is ‘not yet close’.

However, he does state that talks are ongoing between all parties in what would be a new club-record signing at St James’ Park, insisting that Newcastle plan to use Ekitike alongside Alexander Isak.

Some had wondered if news of our move for Ekitike was an early sign that Isak could be set to leave, but Ornstein’s information is that Newcastle want to build a team that features both in attack.

The Athletic’s Newcastle correspondent Chris Waugh has also weighed in, adding: ‘Should Newcastle conclude this deal, then Ekitike would represent a marquee signing, similar to when Alexander Isak arrived in August 2022 and Sandro Tonali joined the following July. Ekitike is a player with elite potential and would really boost Newcastle’s firepower.”

A versatile forward likened to Isak himself, just where would the 23-year-old fit into our current side?

Of course, he won’t immediately displace the Swede, but it’s unlikely we’re going to spend a club record fee on a rotational player for the cup competitions.

Which leaves Howe with one of two decisions to make: either the gaffer switches to a two striker formation to completely maximise our attacking output.

Or does the Frenchman move either out wide or just behind Isak, at the expense of a player like Anthony Gordon or Joelinton in the midfield?

It’s a question for later, as in the meantime, many will be hoping that this one actually comes off in what would be some statement from Newcastle and the capture of another long-term target!