Hugo Ekitike's agent reveals just how close Newcastle came to signing striker

A leading agent has revealed how close Hugo Ekitike came to joining Newcastle, before the Magpies' move for the forward was hijacked by Liverpool in the summer transfer window.

Ekitike had been on Newcastle's radar since 2022 with the club initially missing out on his signing when the forward joined French giants PSG for £30.6m.

After failing to break into the PSG squad, Ekitike joined Eintracht Frankfurt on an initial loan which was made permanent for a £14million fee in 2024.

Ekitike had thrived at the Bundesliga club where he scored 26 goals in 64 matches, leading to Newcastle renewing their interest in the forward.

Frankurt had reportedly turned down a £70m offer from Newcastle in July, which would have been a club record move at the time.

Newcastle were ultimately beaten to the signing of Ekitike by Liverpool, with the Premier League champions completing a £79million deal after the Magpies dropped out of the race.

Agent Ali Barat, who was working for Eintracht Frankfurt on Ekitike's departure, revealed the collapse of the forward's move to Newcastle had been his biggest regret of the transfer window.

Barat was asked by Tuttosport to name the player he wished he had been able to transfer during the summer, but was unable to secure the deal.

'Hugo Ekitike,' Barat replied. 'I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle, I stayed in Germany for ten days.

‘We agreed everything with the German club and the player.

'Then Liverpool called him and he chose Anfield.’

Ekitike would ultimately travel to Liverpool with his agent Karl Mwalako to put the finishing touches on a £79million move.

The French forward was part of a vast £446million summer spend by Liverpool, which included the £125m deadline day deal which took Alexander Isak from Newcastle to Merseyside.

Newcastle's disappointment at missing out on Ekitike was furthered when the forward struck against them last month.

Ekitike scored Liverpool's second goal in their dramatic 3-2 victory at St James' Park, which saw the Premier League champions let a 2-0 led slip against 10-men before Rio Ngumoha's last-gasp winner.