'I rejected Newcastle transfer at the last minute - now Chelsea want me for £83m'

have reportedly identified Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike as their top target for this summer, with Viktor Gyokeres and Liam Delap likely heading to and respectively. They will hope to go one further than attempts three years ago, after Ekitike rejected a move to St James' Park after a deal had been agreed between clubs.

When Ekitike was at Rennes, he impressed enough to attract the interest of newly-minted Newcastle. They agreed an initial £25.6million deal, having pushed for the signing for several months. However, in the January 2022 window, crushing the club's plans.

Months later, Ekitike secured a loan to , though ultimately his spell at the champions failed and he ended up at Frankfurt.

Ekitike explained that PSG football advisor Luis Campos convinced him to sign with them, rather than Newcastle: "I had an appointment with Luis which meant a lot for me. It was not so long ago. We talked a lot, he is someone I consider enormously. I wanted to come to PSG before this exchange but it convinced me even more.

"I don't put aside everything Newcastle did to get me to come. If I had to go abroad, I would have gone there. But when PSG wants you and you're French, you can't refuse."

Ekitike joined Frankfurt last summer in a deal worth £13.6m and he has excelled since arriving in Germany. The France Under-21 international has scored 22 goals in 45 goals, prompting Chelsea to consider signing him for £83.9m, according to .

Chelsea can ramp up their transfer plans after securing football with victory away to and a striker is their big target.

As the Blues actively search for a striker, they included Gyokeres and Delap on their shortlist, but expect the two forwards to head to Arsenal .

Those decisions have left Chelsea with the freedom to negotiate for Ekitike, though Frankfurt value him at over £80m.

The Blues' ability to spend big this summer is greatly helped by finishing in the top five, allowing much more flexibility regarding the Premier League's Profit & Sustainability rules.

Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche revealed that the club are prepared sell Ekitike for the right price. "If a player develops faster than us, then we let him go, if his demands are met by us," he told . "We depend on generating transfer revenue."

Frankfurt are yet to receive an official offer, but similar to a deal taking Omar Marmoush to , the club won't stop their player from progressing if a sensible bid is made.