For a bit, his goal at the Auguste-Delaune stadium against SC Bastia (L2) on Saturday afternoon would have been the last in favor of Stade de Reims, 14th in L 1, which finally lost on penalties in 1 / 8th final of the Coupe de France.
However, Newcastle’s XXL offer for Hugo Ekitike, estimated at €30m plus €5m, has, according to L’Equipe, remained a dead letter.
With 20 L 1 matches to his credit, the young man and his entourage probably preferred to cautiously decline the offer from the English club, which has spent some €140 million on Guimaraes and Trippier in particular in recent days. No doubt the Ekitike clan deemed it wiser to complete at least a first full season in Reims. It is also possible that the Champagne club could not completely resolve to sell their young and promising striker.
To separate from its top scorer – eight goals in L 1, plus three assists; one in the Cup – it was taking a certain risk for the SR, which is sailing just above the relegation zone in L 1. But the financial opportunity was good for the Reims club, compared to the transfer of Boulaye Dia , 25, the Reims striker sold to Villareal in the off-season as part of a “normal” transfer, for €12 million.
This season, Ekitike bursts the screen: a double against Nantes (3-1), a goal in Strasbourg (1-1) or the winning goal in Lyon (1-2).
“Many now realize the qualities of the player, but not us, said the president of Reims Jean-Pierre Caillot ten days ago. He was trained with us and what he does does not surprise us. Newcastle positioned itself, we discussed. They made a proposal that does not suit us. As we don’t necessarily want to see him leave, we have set the bar quite high. They did offer us €35 million in total, but with many bonuses, some of which were almost impossible to achieve. Like for example, winning the Champions League. We want 30 million plus 10 million achievable bonuses. »
Franco-Cameroonian, the little Hugo, 1.90 m, is indeed the only member of the current workforce to be born in Reims. At 5, he started in Cormontreuil, not far away, then joined the Stade de Reims training center at 11 (2013). Outclassed in the various youth categories, Ekitike joined the reserve team of National 2 (4th level) during the disastrous 2019-2020 season. Non-holder, he however scored 5 goals in twelve games. In the summer of 2020, at just 18, he signed his first pro contract in Champagne.
For pure Reims that he is, Hugo has already seen the country, and well beyond the north of England. After just two appearances in L 1 for his first professional season, he was loaned to Vejle Boldklub, a Danish club partner of SR a year ago almost to the day – 11 games, 3 goals, 2 assists.
Back at the Raymond-Kopa life center and in Delaune last summer, Ekitike resumed its growth under the leadership of Oscar Garcia (successor to David Guion), with the success that we know.
Used alone at the forefront or accompanied by a second striker, in the middle or on the left, this right-hander, tall but very dry (70 kg), is anything but a simple control tower in the opposing area. Good from the head but active in defense, fast, dribbler, clinical, he scores and important goals.
At the beginning of November, Sylvain Ripoll did not fail to send him a first summons with the France Espoirs team, without however launching him against Armenia or North Macedonia during the Euro Espoirs qualifiers.
Barely, Ekitike showed shortcomings in self-control, such as these cards for brutality against Lens in October and Thaon in the Coupe de France in early January. Who knows, the Magpies may have seen this excess of temperament as a guarantee of success in the Premier League.