Newcastle United target Hugo Ekitike 'seeking assurances over playing time'

The 19-year-old is said to be Eddie Howe's primary target for a new striker to support current number nine Callum Wilson ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, with the manager looking to ease the goalscoring burden on the former Bournemouth forward.

A potential deal for Ekitike back in January was cut off by the player due to his desire to continue his development in his native France with current club Reims, with the forward wishing to play out the remainder of his first full season in senior football.

The revisited move has caused plenty of speculation so far this summer, despite Newcastle previously agreeing a five-year deal with the player according to reports, which preceded concerns over the striker's injury sustained on international duty with the France Under-20s earlier in June.

However, talks are set to progress in the coming days according to ChronicleLive, during which Ekitike is said to be requesting details of how much of a role he will play at Newcastle during the upcoming 2022-23 season.

With Wilson expected to be the first-choice striker in Howe's preferred 4-3-3 formation, and Allan Saint-Maximin an all but guaranteed starter on the left of that front three, Ekitike could see his chances limited in the Premier League according to the report.

The Magpies remain keen to conclude a deal for the striker though, who is also attracting interest from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund, with a £25.6m deal said to be on the table to take the youngster to Tyneside.

During his first full campaign in senior football last season, Ekitike scored 10 goals and registered three assists for Reims in 24 Ligue 1 appearances, of which only 15 were starts.