A major update has emerged on Newcastle United's pursuit of Reims centre-forward Hugo Ekitike...

What's the talk?

90min reporter Graeme Bailey has claimed that the Magpies are closing in on the signing of the attacker and compared him to a PSG star.

He Tweeted: "Can reveal that Newcastle United are in advanced talks to sign Reims' Hugo Ekitike for £30m. Outstanding talent - huge signing for Newcastle if they get it done, many in France believe he could be the next Mbappe."

Huge coup

The Magpies could land a "huge" coup by signing Ekitike from Reims this month as he is a talented player with immense potential. Being touted as the "next Mbappe" is some compliment given what his fellow countryman has already achieved at such a young age.

Mbappe has won the World Cup with France and scored 150 goals in 197 matches for PSG, whilst also providing 76 assists for the French giants. He is also valued by Transfermarkt at a whopping £144m, having reportedly been signed from Monaco for £165.7m in 2017.

Ekitike has scored eight goals and provided two assists in just ten Ligue 1 starts for Reims this season in his first full year at senior level. Mbappe's first season of starting more than five league matches in his career ended with 15 goals and eight assists in 17 starts for PSG, with the Reims man on course for 16 goals and four assists in 20 starts if he matches his form from the first half of campaign.

If the 19-year-old can go on to achieve even half of what Mbappe has managed in his career then he could be a sizeable coup for the Magpies and improve their team in the short and long-term. He has already shown that he can score goals in a top-five league, which suggests that he could make an impact in the Premier League this season. Furthermore, he holds the potential to massively increase his value further down the line.

Therefore, this could be a fantastic piece of business by the club, one that shows they are not only looking at stop gaps and short-term solutions to problems. They are seemingly looking to build Eddie Howe a team for the future as well as the present and Etitike, on paper at least, appears to be a great first step to doing that.

AND in other news, Howe can land NUFC's new Andy Carroll in swoop for £72k-p/w beast who's "Sheareresque"...