Final nail in the coffin for Newcastle as Reims boss reveals Ekitike U-Turn

Stade de Reims supervisor Oscar Garcia has, on Friday, offered an replace on the way forward for long-time Newcastle United goal Hugo Ekitike.

The identify of attacking sensation Ekitike has in fact taken its place entrance and centre within the headlines on Tyneside for a while now.

This comes with the 20-year-old, after coming shut to creating the transfer to St. James’ Park in the course of the January switch window, having been broadly tipped as being on the verge of linking up with Eddie Howe’s squad as soon as extra over the course of the final couple of weeks.

The truth is, a number of sources went so far as to counsel {that a} deal was nearly as good as finished, owing to an settlement being struck between the respective switch groups at Newcastle and Reims.

Hugo Ekitike deal. Newcastle and Reims have full settlement on €30m payment plus €5m add-ons, agent is now in talks with Newcastle after being given permission by Reims. ⭐️?? #NUFC

Work in progress as Newcastle have been main the race for weeks.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 4, 2022

And but, up to now, official affirmation of as a lot has not arrived.

Why? The continued efforts of Ekitike’s brokers to pull out negotiations, within the hope of considered one of European soccer’s heavyweights coming into the fray for the Frenchman’s providers.

Talking to the media on Friday, it subsequently got here as little shock when the topic of the way forward for his aspect’s crown jewel was put to Reims boss Oscar Garcia.

And the following feedback on Garcia’s half solely served to place the ultimate nail within the coffin of Newcastle’s Ekitike pursuit.

This comes with the tactician having first revealed that his attacking star ‘desires to remain’, earlier than hinting that Ekitike might solely be swayed right into a switch ought to considered one of Spain’s two greatest golf equipment come calling:

Reims supervisor Oscar Garcia on Hugo Ekitike: “He instructed me he needed to remain, but when Actual Madrid or Barcelona are coming…

“Hugo feels calm. I’ve spoken with him. He can have no downside staying on the membership and neither will I!”#NUFC pic.twitter.com/4uJ9g9DEu7

— Dominic Scurr (@DomScurr) July 1, 2022

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