---
title: "Newcastle United: Magpies target Hugo Ekitike ‘told’ he can leave Reims"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-target-hugo-ekitike-leaving-reims-transfers-eddie-howe/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-05-31T10:48:41Z"
modified: "2022-05-31T10:49:21Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Magpies target Hugo Ekitike ‘told’ he can leave Reims

**[Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/) transfer target Hugo Ekitike has been told that he is allowed to leave French side Reims, reports reliable journalist Lee Ryder.**

### **The Lowdown: Winter target**

The 19-year-old was the subject of a big transfer saga involving the Magpies in January after the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) side [lodged a huge bid](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-hugo-ekitike-reims-24099350) for the Frenchman.

The U20 France international [chose to stall on the move](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-hugo-ekitike-reims-24099350), leaving Eddie Howe with the arrival of Chris Wood from Burnley as the side’s main striking option.

Wood scored just [twice](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/73380/Show/Chris-Wood) and was immediately usurped once Callum Wilson returned from injury, so it would be no surprise to see another striker come in this summer.

[Newcastle news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/)

### **The Latest: Allowed to leave**

Reliable journalist [Lee Ryder took to Twitter](https://twitter.com/lee_ryder/status/1531243109333581824) to share the latest update on Ekitike, where he claimed: “Newcastle’s winter target told he can leave”.

In the adjoining article, [Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-hugo-ekitike-reims-24099350) report that Reims club president Jean-Pierre Caillot has admitted defeat that the striker will leave the Ligue 1 outfit this summer.

Speaking in an interview, [Caillot said](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-hugo-ekitike-reims-24099350): “The amount should be more than €20million (£17m). Afterwards, you have to know how to be reasonable.”

According to [Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-hugo-ekitike-reims-24099350), it is presumed that ‘afterwards’ means the potential add-ons, and there is talk of a 25% sell on fee.

Discussing a potential move to Newcastle, he asserted: “It’s typically the kind of environment where he could continue to grow and move on.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398104″\]

### **The Verdict: ‘Huge’ potential**

Reims’ reserves coach Franck Chalençon told Eurosport France that Ekitike is a player with “huge potential”, as “in front of the goal, his ratio is excellent” (via [Eurosport](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/transfers-1/2021-2022/huge-potential-newcastle-have-25m-bid-accepted-for-france-u20-forward-hugo-ekitike-reports_sto8747920/story.shtml)).

When compared with positional peers across Europe, the 19-year-old ranks in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty goals, illustrating his natural finishing ability in the final third (via [FB Ref](https://fbref.com/en/players/5b92d896/Hugo-Ekitike)).

Therefore, if Newcastle go all in for the Frenchman again this summer, this could be a fantastic signing for Howe.

***In other news: [Newcastle United: Journalist shares Eddie Howe’s transfer priorities](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/newcastle-united-transfer-plans-summer-window-eddie-howe/)***