Newcastle interest in Hugo Ekitike: Can he play with Alexander Isak?

Isak, 25, joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 for £63m.

He is their record purchase and Newcastle supporters will tell you he has been worth every penny.

Over the past three seasons he has scored 54 league goals and that strike rate has led to him regularly been linked with a move.

During the second half of last season Ekitike, like Isak, played as a lone striker. The 23-year-old scored 15 goals and contributed eight assists during the campaign as Frankfurt finished third in the Bundesliga.

So, two players who play in a very similar way and a team that has generally played with just one central striker under Eddie Howe. Where could the Frenchman fit in?

“It’s not a given that Ekitike will play second fiddle to Isak – in fact there is a hope that they could play together,” believes BBC Newcastle’s Matthew Raisbeck.

“Newcastle like versatility. They tried to sign Chelsea’s Joao Pedro this summer, who is another versatile striker.

“I don’t expect them to switch formation for the first game of the season, but this move would allow a greater scope to change tactics throughout the game.

“The message is still that Isak is not for sale. Newcastle are determined to keep him and don’t need to sell for financial reasons.

“They are in the Champions League next season and want to be competitive in the league and all the cups so, even before Callum Wilson left, they were always going to need another striker.

“Ekitike has the profile they want and allows the team to be so much more flexible tactically.

“Newcastle have quality but often at times last season lacked depth. This signing would tick both of those boxes.”