Paris Saint Germain have confirmed the signing of former Newcastle United target Hugo Ekitike from Reims.
Once thought to be signing for Newcastle, Ektike has joined PSG on loan for the upcoming Ligue 1 season, which will see him link-up with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
PSG have an option to buy Ekitike from Reims, which they will likely exercise, similar to how they did with Mbappe.
READ MORE: Inside Newcastle United's frustrating transfer window as clubs ramp up prices for centre-forward
Previously, they signed Mbappe on loan with an option to buy from Monaco in August 2017, in order to allow PSG to avoid the wrath of UEFA's financial fair play rules after they had signed Neymar for a world record fee.
#WelcomeHugo
@hekitike9
pic.twitter.com/f4a3fsO9HA— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)
Newcastle were heavily linked with Ekitike during both the January and summer transfer windows. A deal had been agreed with Reims earlier in the year for the French starlet, only for Ekitike himself to decide on deadline day that staying in France would be a better option.
Not to be deterred, Newcastle went back in for the 20-year-old this summer, with a fee of around €30m having been agreed with Reims. However, while Ekitike was said to be open to a move to Tyneside, it was his agent, Karl Buchmann who held up proceedings by demanding increased fees.
This resulted in Newcastle eventually pulling the plug on the Ekitike deal, with the club keen to avoid being overcharged. And that is a balancing act Newcastle will have to work on moving forward. Already this summer, they have been quoted enormous figures for players who are not of the level of their asking prices.
The likes of Everton's Anthony Gordon and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are fine examples of this. While both are good Premier League players, the fees Newcastle were quoted for the duo were almost extortionate. Newcastle do not want to set a precedent of being ripped off in the transfer market which means they will have to continue to box smart when it comes to any new summer signings.
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