Hugo Ekitike has dropped a potentially huge hint regarding his future this summer after scoring for Reims in their final game of the Ligue 1 season. It was the 19-year-old’s tenth league goal of the campaign which he paired with four assists in his 24 games.
After January interest – and a reported agreed transfer fee – he could have spent the second half of the season at Newcastle but opted to stay in France. He could make the Tyneside switch this summer instead though with the Magpies reportedly still interested in bringing him to the Premier League.
Given Ekitike’s age and his track record in front of goal this term, United certainly won’t be the only interested team. He dropped a hint on Twitter to any potential suitors after signing off for the season in style.
Read more: Hugo Ekitike speaks out on January interest from Newcastle United
His post-match tweet, roughly translated from French, read: “It's always a great feeling to score at home, but the last one was so special for me…”
The actual meaning behind the tweet could be a number of different things but it certainly feels like something of a farewell message to Reims. He admitted, in an interview with L’Equipe, that the timing wasn’t right to move to Newcastle in January but didn’t rule out a summer switch.
"I have a lot of respect for that big club,” he said. “But it was all happening very quickly, the timing wasn’t right. It was better to stay here, to play a full season, to establish myself."
It is worth remembering that the speculation regarding a move to United all came on Deadline Day at the eleventh hour. The fee was agreed between the two clubs in the morning of January 31 which only gave Ekitike a few hours to make a huge decision.
At just 19 years of age, it was hardly surprising to see him choose to remain at the club he has been at since 2013. Although, he now seems ready for another challenge and that could well come at St James’ Park.
