Newcastle’s Howe Prepares for Clash with Former Target Ekitike

Newcastle upon Tyne, England — Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is bracing his defenders as they gear up to face Hugo Ekitike, a striker he once sought to recruit this season. Ekitike, who transferred to Liverpool for £69 million ($92.8 million) last month, will visit St James’ Park on Monday in hopes of bolstering his new team.

Howe expressed his admiration for Ekitike, stating, “There’s no doubt I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years. He’s got really good qualities and he showed that in his first Premier League game. He had a really good debut against Bournemouth.”

The 23-year-old French forward impressed during pre-season, scoring during both the Community Shield challenge and last weekend’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth. As Newcastle seeks their first win of the season, Howe acknowledges that Ekitike will be a significant threat.

Newcastle has actively pursued various attacking options this summer as they prepare for any potential sale of their star striker, Alexander Isak. In their search, they missed out on other notable targets, including two other players who were high on their list.

Despite these challenges, Howe secured signings, including players who bring valuable athleticism and energy to the squad. He mentioned that he will welcome the transfer window’s closure, adding, “Whenever you go through a window, there are ups and downs. It feels like there’s been quite a few downs in this one, but also quite a few positives as well.”

Howe concluded, “The players we’ve signed are very good players who will add a lot to the squad. Of course, there’s one big challenging situation that’s not resolved. From that side, I can’t wait for the end of the window because we can get back to focusing on the football matches.”