An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their attempts to sign Hugo Ekitike in the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope has revealed that the Magpies are now set to abandon their pursuit of the centre-forward as Ligue 1 giants PSG enter the race for his signature.

He tweeted: "Sven Botman due on Tyneside ahead of £32m move but I'm told deal for Hugo Ekitike is all but dead. Sources say agent demands were "ridiculous" & it appears PSG interest is now genuine. Newcastle ready to move on to other targets."

This comes after Keith Downie recently told GIVEMESPORT: “I mean, it was described to me yesterday as Newcastle are getting frustrated because the whole transfer has been difficult. And I think that’s putting it lightly, to be honest. I think they are getting frustrated.”

Eddie Howe will be gutted

The Toon boss will be gutted by this news as it means that he will not - as it stands - be able to select Ekitike in the Premier League next season.

Howe would surely love to help the young striker develop and fulfil his potential in the years to come as the gem has shown extraordinary promise at such a young age.

The Frenchman recently turned 20 and enjoyed a stellar campaign in his first full season in the French top-flight as he scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 15 Ligue 1 starts for Reims.

He has shown that he has the quality to score goals on a regular basis at senior level, despite his lack of experience in the professional game. Now, imagine what he could do with more game time under his belt and, potentially, better players around him...

Howe will be frustrated that he is not going to be the manager to work with Ekitike to help him grow, as this latest update suggests, and will be gutted because his arrival would have been a much-needed boost to the squad.

In the Premier League last season, no Newcastle player scored more than eight goals and only one player managed more than five in the division. The Magpies did not have a go-to marksman over the course of the entire campaign and Ekitike's statistics in France indicate that he has the potential to be that player.

Therefore, he would give Howe's team a lift at the top end of the pitch with his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

The club must now source alternative targets and ensure that they are able to bring in a new number nine before the end of the window.

AND in other news: "My understanding...": Keith Downie drops NUFC claim that'll leave supporters gutted