West Ham, Forest want PSG striker who ‘would be sold’ as they ‘close in’ on €80m ex-Man Utd target | OneFootball

West Ham and Nottm Forest target Hugo Ekitike.

Premier League duo West Ham and Nottingham Forest are reportedly in the running to sign PSG star Hugo Ekitike, who was previously targeted by Newcastle.

The 21-year-old progressed through the ranks at Ligue Un side Reims and he enjoyed a breakout season for them during the 2021/22 campaign.

Ekitike grabbed 11 goals and five assists for Reims that season and his emergence for the French side fuelled talk linking him with a move to Newcastle United in January 2022.

The forward has since joined PSG for around €35m and he scored four goals in his 32 appearances for the French giants last season.

But if reports are to be believed, PSG are already looking to offload Ekitike. RMC Sport have indicated that they ‘would like to sell’ him this summer.

This comes after West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus ‘expressed their interest’ in securing his services this summer.

PSG’s apparent willingness to let Ekitike comes as they “close in” on Benfica and Portugal forward Goncalo Ramos.

The 22-year-old grabbed 27 goals and 12 assists for Benfica across all competitions last term and he has been linked with Man Utd this summer.

French football expert Jonathan Johnson is now reporting that PSG are set to sign Ramos in a “deal worth around €80m”.

“They are closing in on a deal for Goncalo Ramos in their hunt for a true No. 9 up top. The Benfica man has been on Luis Campos’ radar since his arrival at Parc des Princes and the French champions are closing in on a deal worth around €80m which should land the Portugal international in the coming days,” Johnson told Caught Offside.

“Ramos was also looked at by a number of Premier League and European clubs this summer, notably Manchester United who considered him as an alternative to Rasmus Hojlund, but PSG have had him earmarked for some time and return to the Portuguese topflight for further business after the signings of Nuno Mendes and Manuel Ugarte.

“Ramos should pen a contract until 2028 in Paris with Ousmane Dembele also expected to arrive from Barcelona shortly. Although Parisien interest in Randal Kolo Muani was expected to hinge upon a move for Ramos, there is the possibility that PSG still go for both as the club remain keen to offload Hugo Ekitike, who could form part of a potential deal for the Bundesliga outfit’s France international hotshot.

“PSG also remain massively keen on Lyon wonderkid Bradley Barcola despite Dembele’s imminent arrival.”