Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Lewis Pangratiou

Chelsea told to complete £33m transfer for 'next Kylian Mbappe' amid Newcastle links

Chelsea have reportedly made contact with Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike.

The teenage star has enjoyed a breakthrough season in Ligue 1 with Reims, netting eight times in 17 league appearances so far this campaign - more than any other player under the age of 20 in Europe's top five leagues.

As a result of his good form, he's drawn comparisons to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, who is very much the face of French football at the moment.

Mbappe has recorded just two goals more than Ekitike in Ligue 1 this season, a testament to the 19-year-old's ability in front of goal.

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for the Frenchman, but reports have since suggested that Chelsea have also made an approach.

Foot Mercato, via HITC, claim that Chelsea have made contact with a view to signing Ekitike in a deal that could reach €40million (£33.4million).

If Chelsea were to pull off the signing, they'd certainly be getting their money's worth - at least according to the player's coach, Oscar Garcia, who has hinted why Ekitike would be an excellent acquisition.

Speaking about Ekitike in November, Garcia told The Ligue 1 Show on beINSPORTS: "There is something very special about him.

"He's young, and he has the quality to become a very good player.

"He's started a lot of games now, he's a young man with a lot of quality but also a lot to improve on, but he works hard in training."

Ekitike is very much a player to keep an eye on in the future, and if he continues at the rate he's going, he'll have plenty more suitors soon enough.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.