An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike heading into the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot has confirmed that the striker will be available for a fee in the region of €20m (£17m) ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. The Ligue 1 club's chief has also revealed that the Magpies are still in talks with them after failing to secure a deal for the 19-year-old in the January transfer window.

He told L’Union Ardennes, via Sport Witness: “They’re (Newcastle) an ambitious club, who want to build on the long-term and who manifested their interest this winter. Since then, contacts never stopped. It’s typically the type of environment where he could continue to grow and go to the next level.

“It will need to be over €20m. Beyond that, there is a need to be reasonable.”

Instant Dan Ashworth masterclass

Newcastle confirmed the appointment of Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director earlier this week, and he can land an instant masterclass by closing a deal to sign Ekitike.

The French centre-forward has been tipped to be “the next Mbappe”, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, and he could be an excellent addition to bolster Eddie Howe's options at the top of the pitch next season.

In the 2021/22 Ligue 1 campaign, the 19-year-old provided 10 goals and three assists in 15 starts for Reims, just under one goal contribution for every start. He found the back of the net 10 times from an expected goals rate of 8.2, which highlights his impressive finishing ability.

The youngster has shown that he can handle the pressure of playing in a major European league and he is only at the start of his career. Ekitike still has plenty of years ahead of him to develop even further and the comparisons to Mbappe - along with his statistics - illustrate his vast potential.

Given that Newcastle paid £25m to sign Chris Wood in January, £17m or so would be an excellent price for the Magpies to pay for the teenage French striker.

Wood scored five Premier League goals in 34 appearances for Burnley and the Toon combined this season, compared to Ekitike's 10 in Ligue 1, which this suggests that Ashworth would be pulling off a coup by bringing in the Reims starlet.

Therefore, the Magpies' new sporting director can land an instant masterclass by making the 19-year-old his first signing at the helm. He must now negotiate a deal with Reims and ensure that a move is wrapped up in time for pre-season.

AND in other news, PIF plotting NUFC bid for "tremendous" £30m "champion of the world", he's Ben Arfa 2.0...